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A55 N^rth Carolina State Library
1920 ^c
FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY THE
North Carolina Department of Agriculture
North Carolina State College of
Agriculture and Engineering
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1920
North Carolina State Library
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh ^1
FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Doc
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY THE
North Carolina Department of Agriculture
North Carolina State College of
Agriculture and Engineering
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1920
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL
Ealeigh, X. C., June 30, 1920.
To His Excellency, T. W. Bickett,
Governor of North Carolina.
Sir :—I have the honor to submit herewith report of the operations of
the Agricultural Experiment Station, conducted jointly by the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina State Col-lege
of Agriculture and Engineering, for the year ended June 30, 1920.
This work is under the immediate direction of the "Joint Committee for
Agricultural Work," provided for in chapter 68 of the Public Laws of
1913, and amended by chapter 223 of the Public Laws of 1917, and the
report is made in accordance with the requirements of the act of Con-gress,
approved March 2, 1887, and known as the Hatch Act.
Very respectfully,
B. "W. KlLGORE,
Director.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Letter of Submittal 3
Staff of Workers..., 5
General Summary of the Work of the Station During the Year 7
Financial Report 13
Report of the Division of Agronomy 15
Report of the Division of Chemistry 32
Report of the Division of Animal Industry 31
Report of the Division of Entomology 39
Report of the Division of Horticulture 10
Report of the Division of Plant Pathology and Bacteriology 53
Report of the Division of Markets and Rural Organization 59
Report on Drainage 67
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE
*Governor T. W. Bickett, Chairman.
M. B. Stickley Concord *T. T. Thorne Rocky Mount
T. T. Ballinger Tryon *C. W. Gold Greensboro
W. H. Williamson Raleigh T. E. Vann Como
*0. L. Clark Clarkton P. S. Boyd Mooresville
Everett Thompson Elizabeth City W. E. Daniel Weldon
R. H. Ricks. • Rocky Mount *W. H. Ragan High Point
W. R. Bonsal Hamlet H. L. Stevens Warsaw
D. R. Noland Crabtree A. M. Dixon Gastonia
*W. C. Riddick (President College) West Raleigh
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
*W. A. Graham, Chairman.
F. P. Latham Belhaven *A. T. McCallum Red Springs C W. Mitchell L Aulander *C. C. Wright Hunting Creek
*R. L. Woodard Pamlico W. C. Grier Grassy Creek
*Clarence Poe_. Raleigh H. Q. Alexander Matthews
R. W. Scott Haw River A. Cannon . Horse Shoe
STAFF OF THE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION AND EXTENSION SERVICE
ADMINISTRATION
B. W. Kilgore Director of Experiment Station and Extension Service
C. B. Williams Vice-Director Experiment Station
R. W. Collett Assistant Director, Branch Station
R. W. Green Agricultural Editor
A. F. Bowen Bursar
Miss S. D. Jones Bursar
Miss Mary S. Birdsong Secretary to director
H. C. Evans . Auditor and Executive Assistant
AGRONOMY
C. B. Williams.-. Chief in Agronomy ]\N. E. Hearn „ Soil Survey
W. F. Pate Soil Agronomist fS. O. Perkins... Assistant in Soil Survey
S. K. Jackson.. Assistant in Soils S. F. Davidson Assistant in Soil Survey
H. B. Mann Assistant in Soils W. A. Davis Assistant in Soil Survey
R. Y. Winters Plant Breeding Agronomist fR- E. Devereux Assistant in Soil Survey
S. W. Hill Assistant in Plant Breeding W. D. Lee Assistant in Soil Survey
P. H. Kime Assistant in Plant Breeding fE. H. Mathewson Tobacco Expert
G. M. Garren Assistant in Plant Breeding A. R. Russell, Assistant in Field Experiments
fM. W. Hensel, Specialist in Sugar Plant Production
CHEMISTRY
W. A. Withers Chemist W. G. Haywood Fertilizer Chemist
J. K. Plummer S^te Chemist E. S. Dewar Assistant Chemist
F. W. Sherwood Assistant Chemist G. L. Arthur Assistant Chemist
J. M. Pickel Feed Chemist B. C. Williams Assistant Chemist
ENTOMOLOGY
Franklin Sherman, Jr.. .Chief in Entomology fC. L. Sams Bee-keeping
Z. P. Metcalf Entomologist W. B. Mabee.. ..Extension Entomologist
R. W. Leiby Assistant Entomologist C. S. Brimley Assistant Entomologist
V. R. Haber ..Assistant Entomologist T. D. Mitchell Assistant Entomologist
HORTICULTURE
C. D. Matthews, ... L. H. Nelson Assistant Horticulturist
Acting Chief, Division of Horticulture J. M. Dyer Assistant Horticulturist
J. P. Pillsbury Horticulturist P. T. Schooley Extension Horticulturist
L. R. Detjen Assistant Horticulturist
ANIMAL INDUSTRY
Dan T. Gray Chief in Animal Industry John E. Ivey Asst., Poultry Investigations
R. S. Curtis Associate in Animal Industry fF. R. Farnham Assistant in Dairy Farming
Stanley Combs Dairy Experimenter fA. C. Kimrey Assistant in Dairy Farming
B. F. Kaupp, fD. R. Noland Assistant in Dairy Farming
Poultry Investigator and Pathologist |F. T. Peden Assistant in Beef Cattle
tJ. A. Arey. Dairy Farming Earl Hostetler,
fW. W. Shay Swine Extension Assistant in Beef Cattle and Swine
fA. G. Oliver Poultry Extension IGeorge Evans.. .Assistant in Sheep Extension
E. C. Wardin Asst., Poultry Investigations J. O. HALVERSbN Nutrition Specialist
PLANT PATHOLOGY
F. A. Wolf Plant Pathologist S. G. Lehman Assistant in Bacteriology
R. A. Jehle Extension Pathologist
DRAINAGE
fH. M. Lynde Senior Drainage Engineer F. O. Bartel Junior Drainage Engineer
MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION
Gorrell Shumaker Marketing Fruits and Vegetables
J. H. Henley. Credit Unions
tP. H. Hart.. Cotton Grading
fj. P. Brown Warehouse Inspection and Operation
fj. M. Workman Warehouse Construction
FARM MANAGEMENT
t J. M. Johnson Farm Management
BRANCH STATIONS
F. T. Meacham Assistant Director, Iredell Branch Station
C. E. Clark Assistant Director, Edgecombe Branch Station
E. G. Moss Assistant Director, Granville Branch Station
S. C. Clapp Assistant Director, Buncombe Branch Station
A. S. Cline.. Assistant Director, Black Land Branch Station
R. W. Collett Assistant Director, Pender Branch Station
FARM FORESTRY
H. B. Krausz Farm Forestry Specialist
FARM ENGINEERING
E. R. Raney Farm Machinery, Extension
FARM DEMONSTRATION WORK
C. R. Hudson State Agent
H. H. B. Mask Assistant State Agent
E. S. Millsaps. District Agent, Piedmont District
T. D. McLean.. District Agent, Cerltral District
J. M. Gray ,... District Agent, Mountain District
O. F. McCrary District Agent, Northeastern District
E. W. Gaither District Agent, Southeastern District
HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
Mrs. Jane S. McKimmon State Home Demonstration Agent
Miss Laura M. Wingfield. Assistant State Home Demonstration Agent
Mrs. Eunice P. McCrary Tidewater District Agent
Mrs. Estelle T. Smith Eastern District Agent
Mrs. Cornelia C. Morris Central District Agent
Miss Maude E. Wallace Piedmont District Agent
Mrs. Mittie M. Henley j Mountain District Agent
The members marked with * are members of the Joint Committee for Agricultural Work, and
the Station is under their direction.
fin cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture.
FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station
B. W. Kilgore, Director
During the year covered by this annual report the Experiment Station
felt the effects of the readjustments going on throughout the country,
and in common with other institutions suffered from the lack of funds
necessary to meet the rising costs of conducting experimental work. A
number of separations from the staff occurred, the men going to other
institutions or into commercial work at increased salaries.
Under these conditions the development of new lines of work was
impossible, although every effort was made to continue lines of experi-mental
work already under way, and considerable progress has been
made, despite the handicaps under which the Experiment Station has
operated.
CHANGES IN STAFF
Since the last annual report changes in staff were made as follows
:
Resignations.—E. C. Brintnall, assistant in dairy farming; J. W.
Schloss, assistant in beef cattle; S. J. Kirby, assistant in plant breeding;
S. G. Rubinow, assistant to the Director ; F. H. Jeter, agricultural edi-tor
; Charles S. Jones, specialist in marketing livestock; Boiling Hall,
assistant in marketing fruits and vegetables; A. N. Pratt, assistant in
marketing perishables ; R. W. Collett, assistant director branch stations
;
J. K. Plummer, soil chemist ; L. R. Detjen, assistant horticulturist ; J. E.
Eckert, assistant entomologist ; O. J. McConnell, assistant in cotton
grading and marketing.
Appointments.—B. E. Brown, chief division of markets ; J. H. Henley,
specialist in credit unions; W. W. Magill, assistant in marketing fruits
and vegetables; R. W. Green, agricultural editor; and F. E. Miller,
assistant director branch stations.
The following paragraphs, under divisional headings, give brief sum-maries
of the progress of experimental work during the year, further
details being included in the reports of the chiefs of divisions.
AGRONOMY
The soil survey work, which is regarded as a necessary foundation for
agronomic studies, was completed in Tyrrell, Durham, Buncombe, and
Guilford counties, and some work done in Onslow.
Soil fertility studies have been continued and the use of commercial
fertilizers, lime, and crop rotations, including legumes, have been studied
hLQrth ^Carolina
8 Forty-Third Annual Report N\ C. Aori. Exp. Station
and results given to farmers of the State. It is of paramount import-ance
that soils be built up and kept in a productive state and this idea
has been constantly in mind in the experiments carried on by the Divis-ion
of Agronomy.
At the Washington farm fertilizer experiments on peat soil were con-tinued,
and results of three year's tests indicate that more than one ton
of lime to the acre is needed and that marl is not quite as efficient a car-rier
of calcium as are other forms of lime.
In fertilizer experiments at Pender farm using corn, oats, vetch, and
cotton in a three-year rotation; with a cover crop on the land, results
since 1915 have indicated that nitrogen is the constituent most needed
for better crop yields. Phosphoric acid with nitrogen has given more
increases than potash with nitrogen.
Results of tests made at Edgecombe farm show as a whole that farmers
of the coastal plain section are not using enough fertilizer for cotton and
that the formulas used are not the best for the most economical produc-tion.
More nitrogen and potash should be used with the phosphoric
acid remaining about the same, or slightly reduced.
Tests at Iredell continue to show that with the types of soils at this
farm, phosphoric acid and nitrogen are the controlling factors for better
crop yields. Lime and legumes seem to increase the efficiency of the
fertilizer in producing larger crop yields.
The experiments at Central Test Earm having brought out the import-ance
of having more vegetable matter incorporated in the soil so that
crops will be better enabled to take advantage of the applications of
fertilizer.
In the rotation experiment on the Buncombe farm good results were
obtained where lime was used with red clover. The legume plots show
much better than where no cover crop was used.
Tobacco experiments at Reidsville gave striking evidence of the effect
of seasonal conditions on the action of fertilizers. Muriate of potash
afforded more protection against "wild fire" than did sulphate of potash,
and the muriate also gave considerable immunity from "sand-drown"
and produced a larger growth than the sulphate.
Cotton variety studies were continued during the year and the strains
of cotton isolated in 1913, and self-fertilized since that time, have shown
no loss of vigor due to inbreeding. During the last six years strain
No. 29 has averaged 2,061.78 pounds of lint to the acre, while ~No. 22,
an inferior strain, has averaged only 985.1 pounds of lint to the acre.
Branch stations are being stocked with good strains of field crops to
serve as a source for good seed for their sections, xlt the present time
cotton, corn, wheat, oats, rye, soybeans, and vetch are included in this
crop improvement work.
CHEMISTRY
Experiments with the object of the elimination of gossypol and
D-gossypol from cotton seed and meal were continued, using air, oxygen,
Director's Summary 9
and carbon dioxide. By varying the temperature, the amount of water
present, and the time of action, it was found that a part of the gossypol
and D-gossypol in kernels could be changed to other forms by the more
severe treatments, but that it was difficult to reduce the amount of these
two substances to the average gossypol and D-gossypol content of cotton
seed meal.
Tests with chemicals were also made which tended to show that the
D-gossypol in cotton seed meal is changed by some agency other than
oxidation.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY
Investigational work with poultry has progressed very satisfactorily
during the year, and for the first time a complete anatomy of the
domestic fowl, with illustrations, has been prepared by the division.
The mineral content of twenty southern poultry feeds has been worked
out, having from one to thirteen analyses of each feed, and the acid-base
balance or potential alkalinity and potential acidity worked out for
these feeds.
The work with swine has shown that it costs $4.67 to raise a pig until
it is weaned at the age of ten weeks. Home-made mineral mixture for
wormy and unthrifty pigs has proven beneficial, and so far salt is not
found to be poisonous to pigs. Permanent pasture experiments have
shown that each acre of Bermuda saves $9.03 worth of grain, while Bur
Clover pastures save about half the grain. In fattenings hogs with soy-beans
and peanuts it has been found that there is little difference in the
amount of pork per acre, but hogs eat peanuts much quicker than soy-beans,
and in curing, the meat does not shrink any more when the hogs
are fed on soybeans and peanuts and finished on corn than when fed on
corn and tankage and shorts. Brine is most satisfactory for curing.
In the dairy experiment work eleven mature cows show an increase of
31,741.6 pounds of milk a year when fed a full ration composed of the
same feed they received the year previous, at which time they were given
a limited ration. The first crop of heifers shows an increased milk pro-duction
of approximately 1,500 pounds a year over that of the dams as
mature cows. It has been found that ready mixed feeds produce slightly
less milk than our home-mixed, and costs $22 more a ton.
Experiments in sheep feeding have shown that sheep can eat approxi-mately
one pound of cotton seed meal per hundred pounds live weight
without producing deleterious effects. Sheep can be grown profitably in
Western North Carolina, the main obstacles being poisonous weeds.
ENTOMOLOGY
During the year additional data on old projects has been accumulated
and several new projects undertaken.
The work with spraying late potatoes has shown highly profitable
returns from spraying by a regular schedule of applications, using the
lome-made Bordeaux Mixture.
10 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
Provisions have been made for insect survey work on a larger scale
than heretofore, and this has gone forward with increased speed. Four
hundred and ninety-three species of insects have been added during 1920
to the list of insects known to inhabit the State, making a total list of
5,747.
Outbreaks of Tall Army-Worm occurred during the summer and a dust
poison of one pound of dry lead arsenate to six pounds of dust lime was
found successful in controlling these outbreaks. By surrounding a field
with a protective furrow and using the dust on the waste grass around
the edges inside the furrows, protection is found to be virtually complete.
The tobacco flea beetle project has been continued, the different
methods used for control are burning, dipping, dusting, and cutting.
Investigational work with June beetle, corn root worm, and leaf hopper
has also been continued during the year with satisfactory results.
HORTICULTURE
The work this year has been continued along the same lines as covered
in previous reports. The place of origin, history, and description of a
number of varieties of fruit of North Carolina origin have been secured,
and descriptions secured previous to this season were verified.
Investigational work with peaches has been continued, special atten-tion
being given to dehorning, breeding, and the testing of fifty varieties.
During the spring of 1920 phenological notes on the different varieties
were taken at the Truck Station, which will be of immense value in
handling breeding project.
Gratifying results are being secured by variety tests of twenty-two
pecan trees, certain varieties showing marked adaptability to North
Carolina conditions while others are proving to be undesirable. The
value of correct cultural practices is shown by the increased size of
trees and* size and number of nuts produced. Top-working pecan trees
has been continued, and it has been found that top-working should be
confined to trees not over eight to ten years old to be entirely successful.
As the result of cracking tests conducted during the year, certain varie-ties
that were satisfactory from a productive standpoint proved to be
totally unsuited to North Carolina conditions.
The results of the investigational work with strawberries, Irish pota-toes,
and apples were, in the main, confirmatory of the work of previous
seasons.
Through research investigations in connection with Muscadine grapes,
a considerable amount of data has been accumulated.
PLANT PATHOLOGY AND BACTERIOLOGY
In the studies of tobacco diseases it has been found that tobacco wild-fire
is seed-borne through use of seed from infected pods, that covers from
old plant beds may be contaminated, and that the organism may over-winter
in the soil.
Director's Summary 11
Experimental work with vetch diseases has shown that fungus is initi-ated
in new fields by planting infected seed. The studies on this disease
have been completed and are in press.
Certain selected strains of wheat have been found to be resistant in
the Middle West to both stem rust and leaf rust, and the agronomic
value of these varieties is being studied in cooperation with the Division
of Agronomy. The first year's results show that they possess very strik-ing
resistance but are inferior in yield to varieties known to be adapted
to this section.
Investigational work on a few definite plant diseases of cotton, cow-peas,
lima beans, figs, pepper, soybeans, and tomatoes has been con-ducted
and records made of the diseases studied.
MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION
Investigations and observations show that there is need for a more
remunerative plan of marketing eggs and poultry, especially in the Pied-mont
and Western sections of the State, where these products are sold
locally either at stores, to dealers, or to produce wagons, and when sold
in this way farmers do not get what they should for their products. In
the eastern part of the State fairly good prices have been obtained by
shipping to Norfolk, but for a higher quality product better prices could
be obtained farther North.
In order to assist in the sale of cattle a fairly complete list of the
feeder and stocker cattle for sale in the western part of the State has
been prepared and distributed, and a number of carloads were placed in
this way. A cattlemens' association has been formed and a cooperative
sale of cattle was held at Spruce Pine in September, where 700 head of
cattle were sold. Cooperative shipments of cattle have been limited as in
many instances the prices obtained in the State have been from % to 1%
cents a pound above northern markets, freight and "drift" considered.
However, cooperative shipments of hogs have been carried on in eleven
counties, and in this way local prices were advanced from 1 to 3 cents a
pound.
Better prices for lambs have been obtained through cooperative
marketing, but the wool market was so demoralized that growers shipped
their wool to Elkin where it was made into blankets and satisfactory
prices were obtained for these.
Owing to a shortage in the seed supply of cowpeas and soybeans,
growers who did not sell hastily received an increase in price of more
than two dollars a bushel. Advertising in the Farmers' Market Bulletin
was permitted to growers, provided they guaranteed the purity of variety
and germination.
Many growers shipped their surplus stock of sweet potatoes outside
the State, and it was found that it is not safe to ship bank-stored sweets
any great distance. They rot very badly even in short hauls if the cars
12 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
are not well ventilated. Studies of storage houses have indicated that
good marketable stock will keep in excellent condition, provided the
principles under which the storages operate are not overlooked. South-ern
farmers have a good opportunity on northern markets if they ship a
good quality article at all times.
Considerable improvement has been made in the grading and packing
of fruits as the result of inspection work, and already the grades as
recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture have been
adopted as the legal standard for North Carolina strawberries, potatoes,
sweet potatoes, and apples.
DRAINAGE
Records at the gaging station for the determination of the run-off on
Third Creek Canal, Iredell County, are complete to date, and it has been
found that the average annual run-off on Third Creek is approximately
43 per cent of the average annual rainfall. To obtain an approximate
true rainfall it is necessary to average the rainfalls of. several stations
scattered over the watershed.
The experiments on two tile drainage systems at the Cotton Valley
Farm, located in Edgecombe County, have been completed. The soils
are known as second terrace deposits and are common to the second bot-tom
lands along many of the rivers in Eastern North Carolina. In an
area of 200 acres 12 different soil types were identified, but the texture of
the soil is even more variable.
Experiments on the J. T. Lewis Farm in Pitt County have shown that
this sandy loam soil is of an open nature and responds almost immedi-ately
to tile drainage if an outlet for the water is provided. Most of
the drains on this tract have a grade of 0.30 per cent or more and all
are apparently in good working order.
Approximately 100 acres of muck soil at Black Land Station in
Washington County have been underdrained, and 69 wells for determin-ing
the action of the underdrains in lowering the ground water level
were installed. It is yet too early to draw any definite conclusions from
the experiments, except to state that it is apparently impossible to over-drain
these muck soils.
Various special investigations and studies have been made during the
year in addition to these.
PUBLICATIONS
Two Technical Bulletins have been published during the year, No. 17,
"The Limits in Hybridization of Vitis Rotundifolia with Related
Species and Genera," and No. 18. "Some E. Hybrids of Vitis Rotundi-folia
with Related Species and Genera/' with an edition of 5,000 copies
each, of which about 8,000 have been mailed. An annual report of 1,000
copies was issued and distributed.
Financial Report 13
The Department of Agriculture has issued a monthly bulletin, to-gether
with eight supplements, which have been edited and the printing
of them superintended from this office. We have mailed about 12,000 of
these to the libraries and different specialists and to the small lists
which are not routed according to postomce regulations. Many results
of the work at the station have been printed in these bulletins.
All small printing for the station has been handled through this
office, and multigraph material has been edited and distributed to the
mailing lists maintained by the station. The Extension Farm News and
special news service have been used in keeping the experimental work of
the station before the public.
The reports of the. heads of the divisions and the financial statement
follow
:
FINANCIAL REPORT
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, in Account
With the United States Appropriation, 1919-1920:
Dr.
Hatch Fund Adams Fund
To receipts from the Treasurer of the United States,
as per appropriations for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1920, under acts of Congress approved
March 2, 1887 (Hatch Fund), and March 16, 1906
(Adams Fund) $15,000.00 $15,000.00
Cr.
Salaries $ 9,692.20 $15,000.00
Labor 1,535.86
Postage and stationery 301.98
Freight and express 78.08
Fertilizers 1,341.88
Feeding stuffs 2,000.00
Livestock 50.00
Total $15,000.00 $15,000.00
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, in Account
With Farm and Miscellaneous Receipts.
Dr.
Receipts from other sources than the United States for the year
ending June 30, 1920 $ 7,793.08
Balance on hand 4,074.49
$11,867.57
Overdraft June 30, 1920 351.48
Total $12,219.05
14 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT
Or.
Labor $ 4,152.74
Publications k 340.09
Postage and stationery 15.63
Freight and express 27.11
Heat, light, water, and power 321.14
Chemicals and laboratory supplies 518.98
Seeds, plants, and sundry supplies 878.77
Fertilizers 3.00
Feeding stuffs 2,275.79
Library 592.34
Tools, machinery, and appliances 794.11
Furniture and fixtures 50.35
Scientific apparatus and specimens .' 27.35
Traveling expenses 607.05
Buildings and land 1,614.60
Total $ 12,219.05
We, the undersigned, duly appointed auditors of the corporation, do
hereby certify that we have examined the books and accounts of the
North Carolina Experiment Station for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1920 ; that Ave have found the same well kept and classified as above, and
that the receipts for the year from the Treasury of the United States are
shown to have been $30,000, and the corresponding disbursements
$30,000, for all of which proper vouchers are on file and have been by us
examined and found correct, thus leaving nothing.
And we further certify that the expenditures have been solely for the
purposes set forth in the acts of Congress, approved March 2, 1887, and
March 16, 1906. W. H. Kagan,
H. L. Stevens,
(Seal) Auditors.
Attest: A. F. Bowen, Custodian.
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF AGRONOMY
To the Director: The work of the Division of Agronomy has pushed
forward mainly during the year along the same lines mentioned in the
last report. During all the disturbing factors the work has gone for-ward
without much interruption except in the case of analyses of the
soils and certain soil investigations carried on by the Soil Chemist of the
division. These disturbances have been due to the loss of the Soil
Chemist and of his having to devote a certain amount of his time from
the soil work to borax studies. Plans have now been developed to obtain
the services of a man for this special soil work.
The work in the main has been conducted along the general lines indi-cated
below:
SOIL SURVEY
The soil survey work of the State which is being conducted by the
division in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Soils has been pushed
as rapidly as is consistent with the best interests of the work. The
survey is fundamental to almost all of our other work, as it lays the
foundation for the conducting of agronomic work in the most intelligent
and logical manner. During the year, surveys of Tyrrell, Durham, Bun-combe,
and Guilford have been completed, and considerable work done in
Onslow. It is expected to finish Onslow during the winter and at the
same time to carry on work in another of the eastern counties.
SOIL FERTILITY STUDIES
Since the greatest problem before the farmers of North Carolina is
the maintaining and building up of their soils in a productive state, a
large amount of effort of the Division of Agronomy has been given over
to the study of the fertilizer needs of our soils for the production of the
best paying crop yields. For it is realized that if our farmers are to get
the most out of their farming operations and are to transmit to their
children productive farms, it is of the highest importance that they not
only secure good yields of the different crops for themselves, but they
shall, too, put into operation proper methods of maintaining and build-ing
up the producing power of their soils.
It is felt that in order for the general farmer to increase the produc-tiveness
of his soil it will not only be necessary for him to use commer-cial
fertilizers and lime judiciously, but also that he shall put into prac-tice
a system or systems of crop rotations in which suitable legumes find
their place at frequent intervals. It should also be kept in mind that not
only will it be necessary for him to grow these nitrogen gathering crops
in rotation with his main money crops, but that he shall, after they have
been grown, so handle them as to add in a practical way to the organic
and nitrogen supply of his soil and at the same time to have the exhaus-tion
of the phosphoric acid and potash reserves of his soil to be as small
16 Forty-Third Annual Eeport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
as practicable. In order to do this, generally speaking, for the average
general farmer, it becomes necessary that a considerable acreage shall be
grown every year primarily for soil improving purposes. It is not pos-sible,
ordinarily, in growing leguminous crops to remove them from the
land after they have been grown and have the growth of them benefit
materially, if at all, the producing power of the soil. One of the greatest
errors in the minds of many of our people has been that they, in many
cases, have assumed that it is possible by the growth of a leguminous
crop on the land to build up its productiveness by simply growing the
crop on it and removing the crop after its growth. This cannot be
expected to materially improve the soil, certainly not in a permanent
way, as more plant-food is removed from the soil than is added. It is
very rarely the case where such crops when removed would even add to
the soil a larger amount of nitrogen than was originally in the soil.
County agents and others who are interested in promoting better systems
of agriculture among our people may devote to good advantage a con-siderable
portion of their time to giving definite and reliable information
to our farmers with reference to the proper principles of building up the
producing power of their soils, and at the same time secure from them
an economical production of crops. Millions of dollars are being spent
annually by the farmers of North Carolina for the use of commercial
plant food. This expenditure cannot be made in the wisest way unless
proper systems of crop rotation on the farms of the State are being
practised and the crops after growth are handled in the wisest way. In
other words, commercial fertilizers cannot be expected, nor do they give,
generally speaking, the best financial returns when used on poor soils
that are handled by poor methods of crop rotation and cultivation.
The soil fertility investigations are being conducted at present by the
Division of Agronomy mainly on the following experimental farms and
fields: Buncombe, Swannanoa; Iredell, Statesville; Central, Kaleigh;
Edgecombe, Rocky Mount; Washington, Wenona; Pender, Willard;
Granville, Oxford.
To study the deficiencies of the different types of soil throughout the
States, tests are being conducted on the distinct types of soil located at
the points indicated below:
For Mountain Section
Toxaway Silty Loam, Andrews; Porter's Loam, Swannanoa; Toxaway
Loam, Swannanoa.
For Piedmont Section
Davidson Clay, Linwood; Cecil Clay Loam, Statesville; Mecklenburg
Clay Loam, Concord; Durham Sandy Loam, Oxford; Granville Sandy
Loam, Eranklinton; Wilkes Sandy Loam, McLeansville.
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh
Agronomy 17
For Coastal Plain Section
Norfolk Fine Sandy Loam, Kocky Mount; Portsmouth Fine Sandy
Loam, Pantego ; Muck, Moyock ; Norfolk Fine Sandy Loam, Willard.
In connection with the Farm-life Schools of the State experiments are
being conducted along the same general lines as the soil type studies,
with one exception that one plot receives stable manure. At present, ex-periments
are being conducted at the following schools
:
In Piedmont Section
Lowe's Grove Farm Life School, Durham ; Parrish Agricultural High
School, Bahama.
In Coastal Plain Section
Aulander Farm-life School, Aulander; Eed Oak Farm-life School,
Kocky Mount; Sand Hill Farm-life School, Carthage; Craven County
Farm-life School, Yanceboro.
MISCELLANEOUS SOIL TESTS
Miscellaneous tests were begun at the following places to study differ-ent
soil fertility problems
:
At Edgecombe Farm.—To study the effect on the quantity and grade
of peanuts of applications of limestone, gypsum, and sulphur. To de-crease
the number of factors no plant food was added to the different
plats. This experiment has not yet progressed far enough to justify a
statement of results and conclusions.
At Lowe's Grove, Central Farm, and Manchester.—Experiments were
started this year to compare the relative efficiency of nitrate of soda and
sulphate of ammonia as carriers of nitrogen used on cotton as top-dressers
at different dates. These experiments will have to be continued
for a time before deduction may be safely made from the results.
At Wadesboro, Iredell Farm, Pender Farm, and Buncombe Farm.—
Experiments have been started to compare the relative value of raw rock
phosphate, soft rock phosphate, basic slag and acid phosphate as carriers
of phosphoric acid, using large amounts of nitrogen and potash to
reduce the number of limiting factors. So far acid phosphate has gen-erally
given greater and better paying yields than have the other carriers
of phosphoric acid.
Work has been started on peat soil at Wenona to determine the effect
on the growth of crops by turning the soil at different depths.
Tests with cotton and corn to study the efficiency of Phospho-Germ
against a complete fertilizer have been conducted during the year at
Wadesboro, and at the Central and Iredell farms. Available results so
far do not indicate that Phospho-Germ has measured up in value to the
commercial fertilizers used comparatively.
2—
IS Forty-Third Annual Report 1ST. C. Agri. Exp. Station
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS AND RESULTS AT THE DIFFERENT
FARMS
At Washington Farm—In an experiment on Field A it was planned
to study the effect of different combinations of fertilizers on peat soil,
with and without lime, when used singly, in combinations of two, and all
three elements of plant food. One plot also received basic slag. Although
there have been some crop failures in this experiment, sufficient data has
been secured, it is felt, to justify a statement that lime is decidedly the
first most important constituent needed by this soil, after drainage, for
good crop results. The addition of phosphoric acid and potash has
shown no benefit when used alone or in combinations and sometimes a
depressing effect. Of the crops tried, corn has been the only successful
crop grown thus far.
Increasing the amount of lime, within the limits used, has given in-creases
of crop yields. To be enabled to answer the questions of how
much and what forms of lime to use on this kind of soil to best advantage
an experiment was begun in the spring cf 1917. Three forms of lime are
being tested—hydrated lime, ground limestone, and marl. The quantities
used are the equivalent of one ton, two tons, three tons, and four tons of
calcium carbonate per acre applied once every three years. Results of
three years' field experiments have been secured and indicate that more
than one ton of lime is needed per acre, also that marl is not quite as
efficient a carrier of calcium as are other forms of lime.
At Pender Farm.—In 1915 an experiment was begun on Fields A and
E at this farm to determine the best combinations of fertilizers to use on
this type of soil, using corn, oats, and vetch, and cotton in a three-year
rotation with a cover crop always on the land. Several failures have
been marked up against this field on account of the corn-bill bug. So
far, nitrogen has shown to be the constituent most needed for better
crop yields. "When two and three times normal amounts of nitrogen are
used, increases in crop yields are secured. Phosphoric acid with nitrogen
has given more increases than potash with nitrogen. Lime has shown up
well, especially with soybeans, and is paying for itself. The field at this
farm is in poor physical condition, but it seems from now on more strik-ing
results should be secured. The use of basic slag has not shown up
quite as well as acid phosphate.
In 1918 another experiment was begun to test the relative efficiency of
different carriers of phosphate. The field is divided into eight plots,
with limed and unlimed ends. The first crop—corn—was a partial
failure, but acid phosphate gave greater yields.
At Edgecombe Farm.—The main fertilizer tests at this farm are on
Fields A, B, and C, using a three-year rotation consisting of corn, cotton,
and peanuts, with a cover crop every year. In these tests on this type of
soil, nitrogen and potash have shown to be the first important constitu-ents
of plant food to be supplied for best crops. On Field A the appli-cation
of nitrogen and potash has paid better on an average than has
Agronomy 19
the use of a complete fertilizer. With larger amounts of nitrogen and
potash, phosphoric acid begins to show up. The results show as a whole
that farmers of the Coastal Plain section are not using enough fertilizer
for cotton and that the formulas used are not the best for the most
economical production. More nitrogen and potash should be used with
the phosphoric acid remaining about the same or slightly reduced.
In the rotation tests on this farm the results show that corn every year
and cotton every year is better than a simple rotation of corn and cotton
without cover crops, when fertilizer is used. When legumes are intro-duced
in the rotation better yields of all crops are secured. The manure
plot has shown us that organic matter is a big factor on this type of soil.
The use of rock phosphate has not given as good results in the main
fertilizer tests as had acid phosphate.
In the study of different carriers of nitrogen, nitrate of soda still leads,
with sulphate of ammonia coming second in value as a carrier of nitro-gen.
All the carriers of organic nitrogen tried did not show the efficiency
in promoting yields that the inorganic forms did.
In the test in sowing Lespedeza in the spring the results show that
even with the addition of limestone and phosphate our climatic condi-tions
are such that it cannot be safely depended upon as a hay crop. A
test to determine the effect of winter-killing on crimson clover, using seed
from foreign and native sources, did not show any decided difference last
year. It was repeated this year with the same general results.
At Iredell Farm.—With the type of soils at this farm, the evidence
is still conclusive that phosphoric acid and nitrogen are the controlling
factors for better crop yields. Lime is giving good results and the yields
of crops indicate where more organic materials are incorporated into the
soil, which can be secured by the use of legumes and lime, the capacity
of the soil to make larger crop yields is increased by the increased effi-ciency
of the fertilizer added.
In rotation tests the results show that corn every year and wheat
every year with fertilizers is just as good as a two-year rotation of corn
and wheat with fertilizers and that when legumes are added in the rota-tion,
such as red clover, cowpeas, or soybeans, better crops are secured.
In the study of different forms of nitrogen carriers, nitrate of soda
and sulphate of ammonia have given greater efficiency than any other
common carriers of this constituent since the beginning of the experi-ment.
INTo noticeable residual effect is manifested on plots receiving
organic carriers of nitrogen over the inorganic carriers.
In the regular fertilizer experiments, finely ground rock phosphate
has not generally shown as efficient as a provider of phosphoric acid as
acid phosphate. In the test where rock phosphate is used in amounts
varying from 500 pounds to 4,000 pounds complete fertilizer using acid
phosphate as the source of phosphoric acid has shown up better in all
cases with corn and wheat, except where 4,000 pounds of rock phosphate
was used to the acre. This latter plot seemed naturally a little more
20 Forty-Third Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp. Station
fertile from the beginning and has kept up. Beginning in the fall of
1919, Plot No. 1, which received a complete fertilizer, the application was
changed to acid phosphate alone. By this change a fairer comparison
will be obtained against the different amounts of rock phosphate.
No conclusions can yet be drawn in regard to the efficiency of nitrolene
as a carrier of nitrogen.
In the spring of 1919 a test was started to show the efficiency of soft
phosphate rock as against acid phosphate. Up to this time acid phos-phate
has given greater yields with both cotton and corn.
At Buncombe Farm.—In the regular fertilizer experiment, phosphoric
acid, nitrogen, and lime seem to be the controlling factors for better crop
yields with both bottom and upland soils.
In the rock phosphate test, in which comparison is made of the value
of ground phosphate rock and acid phosphate, alone, with stable manure,
and with legumes, the acid phosphate has given greater crop yields and
net returns under all conditions and with all crops.
Lime is beginning to show up on soils of this farm, and with red clover
in the rotation should be considered one of the first materials required to
be applied for best paying results.
At Central Test Farm.—The experiments here have brought out the
importance of having more vegetable matter incorporated in the soil so
that the crops will be better enabled to take advantage of the applica-tions
of plant food applied. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid give increased
yields, with potash of little importance for increased production until
nitrogen has been applied in goodly amounts. It has been shown that a
rotation of corn and cotton without lime and using rye and crimson
clover as a winter cover crop will not frequently do for this type of soil
in this part of the State where dry spells are apt to occur to decrease or
stop the crop growth. Basic slag, nitrogen and potash under cotton every
year with crimson clover has seemed to have kept up the yields better
than any other rotation.
A test was started this year to determine the efficiency of nitrate of
soda and sulphate of ammonia on cotton each applied at four different
dates. On account of variable season this test will have to be run several
years in order to secure most dependable results.
An experiment was started this year to determine the value of Phos-pho-
Germ as a fertilizer. Trona potash under corn is being tested, using
different amounts of potash and supplying a liberal amount of both nitro-gen
and phosphoric acid.
An experiment has been started to see if lime and acid phosphate will
be able to produce profitable crops when used with legumes or crop
residues turned under every year. Also two forms of lime are used and
in different amounts. On Fields A and B at this farm, manure at the
rate of seven tons per acre was broadcast this spring and soybeans ferti-lized
and sown to be turned under, and then rye was sown. This was
done to bring back these plots to a higher state of fertility, as recent
Agronomy 21
yields indicated that on account of the poor physical condition the crops
were not getting the benefit of the fertilizers applied.
A spring sowing of Lespedeza was started in 1917 in cooperation with
the U. S. Department of Agriculture at this and at the Edgecombe
farm, using lime and acid phosphate, to see if a successful hay crop
could be made. So far negative results only have been recorded. The
main reason for the poor results has been due to the growth of grass and
weeds before the clover gets started. The seasons in this section seem to
be too hot and dry for a satisfactory growth of this crop for hay on soils
similar to those of this farm.
SOME GENERAL CONCLUSIONS FROM FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS
At Buncombe Farm.—(1) With the main fertilizer experiments the
value of phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and lime is still maintained and are
the controlling constituents for better crop yields on both the upland
and bottom soils of the Mountain section. (2) The rock phosphate test
still shows phosphoric acid carried by acid phosphate as better for larger
crops than is finely ground raw rock phosphate. (3) In the rotation
experiment, where lime is used with red clover, fine returns have been
secured. The legume plots show up much better than where no cover
crop was used. (4) The soft phosphate experiment has given indica-tions
that acid phosphate is better for larger crops than other carriers
of phosphoric acid tried.
At Washington Farm.—(1) The use of all fertilizer mixtures tried
has failed to pay. (2) Applications of lime usually assure good crop
yields, and the use of two tons is better than one ton. (3) Three tons of
calcium carbonate per acre does not increase the yield but very little
more than two tons. (4) Marl has been found to be a poorer carrier of
lime than is limestone or burnt lime. (5) Three tons of marl are better
than two tons. (6) Burnt lime is no better than the use of raw ground
limestone.
At Pender Farm.—(1) Nitrogen stands out as first in importance to
be provided on this soil. Phosphoric acid comes next when used with
nitrogen. The use of potash has not shown up to very good advantage.
(2) Lime is quite beneficial on soybeans and probably other legumes.
At Edgecombe Farm.—(1) More fertilizer of the right kind is needed
for cotton than is commonly used. The ordinary formulas as used by
farmers should have more nitrogen and potash. The use of lime shows
up to advantage. (2) A corn and cotton rotation simply is no better than
corn and cotton each year on the same land. When legumes are intro-duced
they show up to good advantage. (3) Nitrate of soda and sul-phate
of ammonia are two of the best carriers of nitrogen for corn and
cotton. They will have to be used with proper safeguards.
At Iredell Farm.—(1) Phosphoric acid and nitrogen are still the most
important factors for better crops. (2) In rotation studies, corn and
22 Forty-Third Annual Eeport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
wheat every year is as good as corn and wheat in rotation. Legumes
show up in this rotation to good effect. (3) Very large applications
(4,000 pounds per acre in each rotation as clover is being turned in) of
finely ground rock phosphate have shown up a little better than a com-plete
fertilizer with red clover in the rotation. (4) Nitrate of soda and
sulphate of ammonia, properly used, are two of the most efficient carriers
of nitrogen tried for the growth of corn and cotton.
At Central Farm.—(1) Organic matter from some source, and if
grown lime to assist, stand out as very essential for larger and better
paying crop yields. (2) Spring is not the time to sow Lespedeza for hay
in this section. (3) The use of basic slag and crimson clover are suitable
to keep up the yields of cotton. (4) Phospho-Germ has given poor
results in the growth of rye.
TOBACCO EXPERIMENTS AT REIDSVILLE
The general fertilizer experiments have been continued. The most im-portant
observation this year was the striking evidence of the effect of
seasonal conditions on the action of fertilizers—the resulting growth
being much larger than in former years, the quality remaining very good
on even the heavier fertilized plots.
The special potash experiments gave results the most striking ever
obtained at this farm. "Wild-fire" affected this set of plots severely and
the superiority of muriate of potash over the sulphate of potash was
really astonishing in affording protection from this disease. The muriate
also gave a considerable immunity from "sand-drown" and produced a
larger and better growth than the sulphate.
The special nutrition experiments were continued but with the addi-tion-
of a new set of fields, Nos. 1 and 2, one on old land and the other on
similar natured land but freshly cleared from the original forest. Sam-ples
of soil were taken from both fields for the purpose of obtaining the
humus content. This experiment will be repeated at intervals in future
years in order to learn the changes that take place according to treat-ment
with crops and fertilizers.
This year the most striking observation was the relative superiority
of corn on the old land and contrasting superiority of tobacco in both
yield and quality on fresh land.
The need for phosphoric acid was even more strongly manifested on
the fresh land, the growth where this constituent was lacking being
almost nothing on the fresh land especially with the corn plots.
TOBACCO EXPERIMENTS AT GRANVILLE FARM
General Fertilizer Tests.—There are thirty-six regular fertilizer plots
in this experiment. The object is to determine the best sources of nitro-gen,
phosphoric acid, and potash, and also the best combinations of these
various sources. In 1920 ground limestone, used at the rate of two tons
Agronomy 23
per acre^, was applied on one-half of each of these plots, thereby making
a total of seventy-two plots. The indications are that the use of lime
has added somewhat to the yields.
Special Potash Plots.—There were twenty plots used in this experi-ment
for determining both the best source and quantity of potash per
acre. The potash was applied in different amounts, ranging from noth-ing
to 80 pounds per acre, with and without lime. The indications are
that the use of around 40 pounds of potash per acre seems to be about
right. While the muriate gave a larger yield than sulphate of potash we
are not sure as yet that we recommend muriate in preference to sulphate
on account of quality of the tobacco produced.
Variety Tests.—Twenty-one so-called varieties were tested this year,
among them being several hybrids which have shown some promise.
There were also tested out the new variety known as "Big Gem," "Make
All," "Harrison's Pride," and perhaps known in different localities
under two or three other names. It was found that this variety was
more resistant to "leaf spot" disease than a number of the other varie-ties.
It was found to make a splendid growth, but did not have the body
and general character possessed by the Orinocos, Adcock, Gooch, or
Warne. It does, however, show promise.
Rotations for Tobacco.—Several rotations have been followed. Con-ditions
will always be a big factor in determining the proper rotation to
adopt, but wherever it is possible a grass sod well prepared is an ideal
crop to precede tobacco.
Tobacco After Cowpeas.—We have been planting tobacco after cow-peas
in rotation with oats for nine years and have used no nitrogenous
fertilizers under the tobacco. When topped low and the tobacco is cut it
has been found difficult to get color and quality, but since we have been
priming and planting twenty-four inches in the drill, splendid color with
an average yield of about 1,100 pounds has been secured. While this is
not always a safe rotation, it, when used intelligently, may give good
results, especially if wire-worms are not present.
Closer Planting Combined with More Intensive Fertilizing.—Twelve
plots, ranging from 3,920, 4,704, 5,880, and 7,840 plants per acre were
used. This covers spacing, with 4-foot rows, of 18 inches, 24 inches, 30
inches, and 36 inches apart in the row. Each distance of planting
was fertilized with 450 pounds, 750 pounds, 1,000 pounds respectively
of 5-8-5 fertilizer per acre. The results thus far secured are fairly con-clusive
in showing that an increased yield with good quality may be
obtained by planting closer, say an average of about twenty-four inches
in the row with four-foot rows, provided liberal applications of fertilizer
are used.
Permanent Tobacco Seed-Bed.—It has been found possible to main-tain
a permanent seed-bed located at some convenient place near the
house, provided steam is used each year to sterilize it. Where a farmer
24 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
has a small portable boiler it is easy to make a pan and use this boiler
for such purposes.
Nutrition Experiments.—In this experiment there are ninety plots,
thirty of which are grown in tobacco, thirty in cotton, and thirty in corn,
with different fertilizer treatments. After the cotton, corn and tobacco
are harvested these plots are seeded in wheat, oats, and rye, which gives
a crop of wheat after tobacco, after cotton, and after corn, and the same
with rye and oats. By this means it is. possible to get the crop-effects
of the three main crops for this section.
Relative Value of Legumes.—There are one hundred and thirty-three
plots in this series of experiments. The object is to determine the relative
value of the most common legumes in tobacco growing. This is done by
planting a certain number of these plots each year in these legumes, after
which they are planted to tobacco, cotton and corn with similar fertilizer
treatment for each crop. When these cultivated crops are harvested,
wheat, oats, and rye are sown. We then get the crop-effects and the
legume-effects on each of the succeeding crops. This is an extremely in-teresting
and valuable experiment, but it will require several years to
secure data that will be dependable.
RESULTS WITH NITRATE OF SODA ON COTTON WITH PIEDMONT
SOILS
In carefully conducted field experiments by the division, nitrate of
soda has proven to be one of the best paying of fertilizers, in the produc-tion
of cotton on "red lands" in the Piedmont section of the State. It
is usually one of the cheapest forms of nitrogen on the market, it is
readily available, and when properly used on clay and clay loam soils its
nitrogen will not leach out much more rapidly than that in other com-mercial
forms of nitrogen. In a seven-years test at the Iredell farm, on
red clay soil, a fertilizer having its nitrogen in the form of dried blood
was applied to cotton at planting. On an adjoining plat a fertilizer of
the same composition was used, except that the nitrogen came from
nitrate of soda. Each of these plats received fifty pounds of nitrate of
soda per acre as a side dressing. The plat having dried blood at plant-ing,
followed by a side dressing of nitrate, made an average yield during
seven years of 767 pounds of seed cotton per acre. The plat that got
nitrate of soda both at planting and later made an average of 919 pounds
of seed cotton per acre. The difference in favor of nitrate of soda being
152 pounds of seed cotton, which at 8 cents per pound (above the present
price) is worth $12.16. When we take into consideration the fact that
the fertilizer containing nitrate of soda costs less than that containing
dried blood, the difference is still greater. The difference in yield
between the two treatments varied from year to year. One year the
nitrate of soda treatment yielded 330 pounds above the other. The
method of applying dried blood at planting and nitrate of soda later,
gave a higher yield than by using nitrate of soda both times only one
Agronomy 25
year out of the seven, and then the difference was only twenty pounds.
In many parts of the Piedmont section the growing season is short and
in order to mature cotton properly it is necessary to grow an early
variety, to plant early, and to keep the crop growing rapidly from
planting until maturity. Nitrate of soda is available to the young plants
as soon as it dissolves in the soil water, hence it helps them to get a quick
start and so to beat the season. The stiff clay subsoils of the Piedmont
hold the nitrate, so that, while available, it does not leach out during the
growing season as it might do with a coarse sandy subsoil.
PROFITABLENESS OF USE OF FERTILIZERS ON WHEAT ON
MOUNTAIN SOILS
Por a number of years fertilizer tests have been conducted by the
Division of Agronomy at the Buncombe farm. As a result of these tests
it has been found that the proper use of well balanced fertilizer mixtures
will pay well for the fertilizer applied. In fact, without the use of a
good mixture the growth of wheat is a doubtful crop, under normal con-ditions,
from the standpoint of net returns per acre above the cost of
production. What the amount per acre and proportions of plant food
constituents should be for this crop is indicated by the resume given
below of our results on fairly typical bottom-land and up-land soils of
the mountain section of the State.
On Toxaway Loam (Bottom) Soil.—(1) With only two constituents
used, phosphoric acid combined with potash afforded the largest net
returns per acre; while nitrogen combined with potash failed to return
enough to pay for the fertilizer application. The use of nitrogen and
phosphoric acid averaged $4.56 more profit per acre than did the use
of nitrogen and potash, but it was not so great in the former case by
$8.26 as that secured on an average by the use of phosphoric acid and
potash combined. With the use of a combination of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash, a net return per acre above the cost of fertilizer of
$12.35 was secured. This is forty-seven cents less than what was obtained
where a mixture of phosphoric acid and potash was used. Taking all
results of the experiments from the different combinations the evidence
is quite conclusive that phosphoric acid is the dominant or controlling
constituent of plant food for increasing the yield and profit in growing
wheat on this type of soil.
(2) When lime is used alone it has been found to give a small increase
in yield and a profit after paying for itself. In combination with a
complete fertilizer it has shown an annual increase in profit of $18.23
per acre above the net returns secured by the use of a complete fertilizer
alone.
Under the conditions of the experiment the results show that for wheat
grown on this type of soil lime may be used at a small profit alone and
with a much greater profit when applied in conjunction with a complete
fertilizer.
26 Forty-Third Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp. Station
(3) The amount of nitrogen used in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds
per acre) applied in the experiments was three per cent, or 12 pounds to
the acre. This amount was varied so as to give 6, 12, and 24 pounds of
nitrogen per acre. The yields of wheat and straw were very slightly
increased as the applications of nitrogen were made larger, but in no case
did the gains amount to enough to pay for the increased cost of the
fertilizer above the normal amount of nitrogen. In fact with the use of
even 6 pounds of nitrogen not enough gain in yields was made to give as
great a net profit as when phosphoric acid and potash were used without
nitrogen. Until other crop-producing factors are controlled the use of
nitrogen for wheat on this type of soil does not pay.
(4) The amount of phosphoric acid in the normal fertilizer (400
pounds per acre) was 7 per cent, which is equivalent to 28 pounds per
acre. This quantity was varied so as to apply 14, 28, and 56 pounds of
phosphoric acid per acre with normal amounts of nitrogen and potash.
The yields of grain and straw were increased considerably as the
amount of phosphoric acid was increased. The net returns secured per
acre were $4.94 when 14 pounds of phosphoric acid were used ; $12.45 by
the use of 28 pounds; and with the use of 56 pounds a net return was.
made of $25.93 above cost of fertilizer applied. From the increase in
yield and net returns made, the use of 56 pounds of phosphoric acid was
found the most profitable amount to use. It is indicated by the results
from the use of 14 pounds to 56 pounds of phosphoric acid that even
heavier applications of phosphoric acid would be more profitable.
(5) The amount of potash in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds per
acre) was 1% per cent equivalent to 6 pounds per acre. This amount
was varied so as to apply 3, 6, and 12 pounds of potash per acre with
normal amounts of nitrogen and phosphoric acid. The results indicated
that 3 pounds of potash are enough to use for wheat on this type of soil.
With the use of larger applications of phosphoric acid more potash could
probably be used with profit.
(6) Varying amounts of the normal fertilizer applications from 200,
400, 600, and 800 pounds per acre gave progressively increased yields
and profits as the quantity of fertilizer was made larger, the results
being quite uniform in this regard. The results of the various applica-tions
after deducting the cost of the fertilizer showed the following net
profits
:
200 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of $ 4.60
400 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of 12.35.
600 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of 34.46.
800 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of 39.67.
Putting this in' a slightly different way, the first 200 pounds of ferti-lizer
application of 400 pounds yielded $3.09 per 100 pounds; 600 pounds
yielded $5.73 profit per 100 pounds, and 800 pounds yielded $4.96 profit
per 100 pounds of fertilizer applied.
Agronomy 27
(7) From the chemical analyses of the various bottom land studied in
the Western part of the State the indications are that these results will
apply generally to these soils.
(8) In the production of wheat on bottom-land soils, of the character
of this, taking all results here reported as a whole, it is recommended
that on well prepared land that at least 600 pounds of fertilizer per acre
be used, analyzing about 10 per cent available phosphoric acid and some-thing
like 1 to 2 per cent nitrogen. It should be the plan of every farmer
to reduce the necessity for the use of nitrogen in the fertilizers used.
This can be done by the growth and plowing in of leguminous crops and
crop residues grown in rotation with wheat.
Porter s Loam (Upland) Soil.—(1) Nitrogen when used in normal
amounts (12 pounds per acre) alone did not produce enough increase to
pay for the material.
(2) Using a normal amount (28 pounds) of phosphoric acid alone
gave a net profit of $10.68.
(3) With a normal amount of potash (6 pounds) a net profit of $5.78
was secured.
(4) With the use of a mixture carrying normal amounts of nitrogen
and phosphoric acid, and no potash, after paying for the fertilizer a net
profit was obtained of $7.82.
(5) With normal amounts of nitrogen and potash and no phosphoric
acid used in the mixture, the increase in yield was barely sufficient to
pay for the fertilizer.
(6) By the use of phosphoric acid and potash, leaving out nitrogen, a
net gain was made of $6.77.
(7) Using all three plant-food constituents combined in a com-plete
fertilizer an increase in yield was secured sufficient to give a net
profit of $9.68. Although the average yield from this plat was larger
than from that to which phosphoric acid alone was applied, the increased
yield is not enough to compensate for the increase in the cost of fertilizer.
(8) The results show that the use of lime alone has given increased
yields and profits, and when used in combination with a complete ferti-lizer
a small net profit has been secured over that when a complete ferti-lizer
alone has been used.
(9) The experiments as a whole show, first, that phosphoric acid is
the controlling plant food constituent for increasing yields and profits
in growing wheat on this type of soil; second, that unless more phos-phoric
acid is applied the use of nitrogen and potash will be made at a
loss ; and third, that lime can be used with profit.
(10) The amount of nitrogen in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds
per acre) applied in the wheat experiments was 3 per cent of 12 pounds
to the acre. This amount was varied so as to give 6, 12, 24, and 36
pounds of nitrogen to the acre. With the exception of the plat which
received the heaviest application (36 pounds) of nitrogen, giving a net
28 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
profit of 18 cents more than did the plat receiving the lightest applica-tion
(6 pounds), the profits decreased as the applications of nitrogen
were increased. The results indicate that until other conditions are
satisfied it is not profitable to use larger amounts of nitrogen than 6
pounds per acre in the production of wheat on this type of soil.
(11) The amount of phosphoric acid in the normal fertilizer (400
pounds per acre) was 7 per cent of 28 pounds per acre. This quantity
was varied so as to apply 14, 28, 56, and 84 pounds respectively of phos-phoric
acid per acre. The largest and most profitable yields were secured
from the use of 56 and 84 pounds per acre with normal amounts of nitro-gen
and potash. As the use of 84 pounds just barely paid for itself it is
probable that until other conditions are satisfied 56 pounds of phosphoric
acid is enough for profitable wheat growing on this type of soil.
(12) The amount of potash in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds per
acre) used, was 1% per cent or 6 pounds per acre. Varying this amount
so as to apply 3, 6, 12, and 18 pounds per acre, respectively, the results
show that for 'the use of 3, 6, and 18 pounds the net profits are practically
the same. For some reason the results secured with the use of 12 pounds
are very high. Until other conditions are satisfied it is probable that 3
pounds of potash are enough to use for wheat on this type of soil.
(13) Varying the amounts of normal fertilizer application from 200
pounds to 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 pounds per acre gave increased yields
and profits for all the applications except where 800 pounds were used.
The most profitable application was at the rate of 1,000 pounds per acre
of the normal mixture. After deducting the cost of fertilizer the differ-ent
quantities per acre showed the following profits
:
200 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of $ 3.55.
400 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 7.04.
600 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 11.11.
800 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 10.56.
1,000 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 13.50.
Putting this in a slightly different way the first 200 pounds of ferti-lizer
yielded a net profit (after paying for cost of fertilizer) of $1.78 for
each 100 pounds of fertilizer; the application of 400 pounds yielded
$1.76 per 100 pounds; 600 pounds yielded $1.85 per 100 pounds; 800
pounds yielded $1.32 per 100 pounds, and 1,000 pounds yielded a profit
of $1.35 per 100 pounds of fertilizer.
(14) From the chemical analyses of the various upland soils in the
western part of the State, the indications are that the results herein
given will apply very well to most of them.
(15) In the growth of wheat on average unmanured upland soils of
the mountains, properly treated, taking all results as a whole, it is
recommended that something like 600 pounds per acre of a fertilizer
analyzing about 10 to 12 per cent phosphoric acid, and 2 to 3 per cent of
nitrogen be applied. When soils of this character are built up, the nitro-
Agronomy 29
gen in the mixture may be reduced or be entirely eliminated. This con-dition
of the soil should be striven for by the growth and plowing into
the soil of leguminous crops and crop residues.
CROP ROTATION
In most of our soil fertility studies, a definite system of crop rotation
is being and has been used for many years. Good rotations with legumes
have been studied against single and double rotations without legumes.
The results have developed many facts of interest* and importance to
farmers of the State. This work is being continued in most of the
experimental work with our main crops on the different soil types of
different parts of the State. It is feared that many have not realized
even yet the value of a good crop rotation in which suitable legumes are
included wherever practical to do so. In this connection it might be
mentioned that at the Central farm in eight years where a five-year
rotation constituted as follows has been followed
:
First year—Soybeans sown broadcast and turned in.
Second year—Cotton, followed by rye.
Third year—Rye plowed in, followed by corn, ears gathered and the
stalks turned in.
Fourth year—Soybeans for hay.
Fifth year—Wheat, followed by soybeans.
And where two soybean crops have been grown and turned under the
yields of the main money crops have been at least quadrupled. For the
average general farmer the only way in which he can increase the organic
or humus supply of his soil in the most practical way will be by the
plowing in of crops and crop residues.
INVESTIGATIONS IN PLANT BREEDING
Cotton Study Work at Central Farm.—The cotton study work under
Adams Project No. 14 has been continued and has consisted of further
comparisons of several strains isolated from one variety and their first
generation hybrids. The strains of cotton isolated in 1913, and self-fertilized
since that time, have shown no loss of vigor due to inbreeding.
The strains are very uniform and distinct in character. During the past
six years strain ~No. 29 has averaged 2,061.78 pounds of seed cotton per
acre, while ~No. 22, an inferior strain, has averaged only 985.1 pounds
per acre.
Seven of the more distinct pure lines were inter-crossed last season.
When the first generation plants were grown this season they proved to be
more vigorous and earlier than either of their parents. In each case the
first generation hybrids were more productive than either of their
parents.
The place-effect studies under Adams Project 15 have continued to
consist of a further comparison of cotton plants from Mississippi-and-
30 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
JNTorth Carolina-grown seed of the same pure strain. The work is con-ducted
in cooperation with the Mississippi Experiment Station. The
seed from the two sources have been planted in alternate rows and notes
have been taken of the number of blooms at the beginning of the bloom-ing
period; the height of plants at blooming time; number of bolls set
and open bolls at intervals ; and the height of plants at maturity. Dur-ing
three previous seasons the Mississippi-grown seed have given earlier,
taller, and more productive plants when grown here than the North
Carolina-grown seed. Similar results were gotten from the studies in the
two localities—at the Mississippi Agricultural College and at West
Raleigh, N. C. This season, the fourth year of the experiment, the seed
have been grown again in the two localities, the results having reversed
themselves in the North Carolina series. This year in this series, the
North Carolina-grown seed have given earlier, slightly taller, and more
productive plants.
SEED IMPROVEMENT ON THE BRANCH STATION FARMS
In order to supply growers of the State with productive farm seeds
of good quality, all of the branch stations are being stocked with good
strains of the different field crops. Among the crops being improved at
the present time are cotton, corn, wheat, oats, soybeans, and vetch.
The Mountain Branch Station has been stocked with a good strain of
Biggs' corn, and of strain No. 38 of the Haberlandt soybeans. The Biggs'
corn has furnished a source of good seed corn to farmers for that section
during the past three years. Strain No. 38 of the Haberlandt soybeans
were a little too late for the bottom-lands on this farm this season. The
growth of the strain will be continued on higher and lighter soils during
next season.
The Piedmont Branch Station has been stocked with King No. 29
cotton seed, Pedigreed Weekly's Improved corn, Leap's Prolific No. 32
wheat, pedigreed Virginia No. 11 soybeans, and pedigreed Abruzzi rye.
Seed of these crops have been increased sufficiently to plant the entire
crop of the farm in pure-bred seed. The surplus seed are being sold to
growers of that section of the State at reasonable prices.
The Central Branch Station is now stocked with pure seed of King No.
29 and Mexican Big Boll cotton, Cooke's Prolific corn, Leap's Prolific
No. 12 wheat, Mammoth Yellow soybeans No. 101, Haberlandt soybeans
No. 38, and Virginia soybeans No. 11. The Mexican Big Boll No. 6
cotton selected on the Central Station farm has ranked first in earliness
and quality of staple in all of these tests made during the past season.
In three of five tests it has taken first place in yield of seed cotton per acre.
When all of the results are in it may make an even better showing.
During the past season sufficient pure seed have'been produced and saved
to plant the entire crop at the Central Station farm during the next
season. This strain of Mexican Big Boll will be used to replace the
strain of King No. 29 previously grown on this farm. The pedigreed
Agronomy 31
Leap's Prolific wheat No. 12 was increased sufficiently this season to sell
262 bushels to growers of the State. The seed was sold to thirty-eight
growers in twenty-two counties. These growers should furnish enough
good seed wheat next year for their different communities. Selection
No. 101 from the Mammoth Yellow soybean has averaged 5.2 bushels
per acre more than the general crop of Mammoth from which it came.
Selected strain No. 11 from Virginia has averaged two bushels per acre
more than the original seed, and strain No. 38 of Haberlandt soybean
averaged 6.2 bushels per acre more than the general crop seed during the
past four years. Seed of these high yielding strains are being established
as rapidly as possible in sections of the State where they are best adapted.
The selection work with Mammoth Yellow soybeans to increase the
oil content during the year has been continued. The selected strains
which have furnished the largest oil content have unfortunately remained
low in yield. Strain No. 101 has continued to give the largest yield of
seed and of oil per acre, though its oil content has averaged 1.1 per cent
lower than that of the unselected Mammoth Yellow beans planted as a
check.
At the Coastal Plain Branch Station the cotton and corn improve-ment
work previously mentioned has been continued. Through careful
selection, Mexican Big Boll cotton has been reduced to a uniform strain
and is gradually becoming a favorite variety in the community. If the
farm were supplied with a private gin, better seed could be produced
which could be sold from the farm in the future. This strain of Mexican
is earlier and more uniform than the original strain. In several cases it
has yielded more than Cleveland and furnished a staple of much better
quality.
The high yielding strain of Mammoth Yellow soybeans, No. 101, has
been planted at the Coastal Plain Station to supply the surrounding com-munity
with a better yielding strain of this crop than is now being grown
in that section.
At the Tobacco and Black-land Stations, selections have been made to
improve the quality and yield of corn grown on them.
PUBLICATIONS
The following bulletins embodying the results of field experiments have
been prepared and issued during the year
:
1. Relative Value of Acid Phosphate and Pock Phosphate on North
Carolina Soils. Issued June, 1920.
2. Fertilizer Experiments with Wheat on Mountain Soils. Issued
July, 1920.
In closing I wish to commend individually all of those associated with
me in the work with crops and soils for the faithful way in which they
have aided in carrying forward the work of the division.
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. Williams,
Chief, Division of Agronomy.
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY
To the Director:—In the last annual report it was stated that work on
the effect of gases on the gossypol content of cotton seed kernels was
under way, the object being the practical elimination of gossypol and
D-gossypol as such from seeds or meal.
These experiments have been continued with air, oxygen, and carbon
dioxide. The temperature, the amount of water present, and the time of
action have been varied within fairly wide limits. It was found that a
part of the gossypol and D-gossypol in kernels could be changed to other
forms by the more severe treatments but that it was difficult to reduce
the amounts of these two substances to the average gossypol and D-gossy-pol
content of cotton seed meal. It was noted, however, that, with the
more severe treatment the amount of gossypol changed seemed to be in-dependent
of the nature of the gas used.
These experiments were repeated on cotton seed meal. Treatment with
the gases named under the varying conditions referred to did not materi-ally
change the content of gossypol nor D-gossypol in cotton seed meal.
Thinking that oxidation might form a satisfactory method for chang-ing
gossypol, we sought to accomplish this end by the aid of some cheap
chemical which would not leave a deleterious residue in the meal.
The chemicals used were bleaching powder, sodium, carbonate, ferric
chloride, ferrous ammonium citrate and ferrous sulphate. Before treat-ment
the meal contained no gossypol and 0.5 per cent D-gossypol. The
meal was treated with aqueous solutions of these chemicals at varying
temperatures up to the boiling point of water, both with and without'
bubbling air through the suspension. The time of the runs varied up to
five hours. It was found that (1) aerating had very little effect on the
final result; (2) under the most severe conditions all of the substances
used changed at least a part of the D-gossypol; (3) the bleaching powder
was least effective in changing D-gossypol; (4) the iron salts and soda
altered approximately 95 per cent of the D-gossypol present.
From these results and such practical considerations as cost and prob-able
effect on the feeding value of the treated meal, copperas was selected
as the best reagent for further work on the problem.
Our efforts were next directed towards finding the minimum amounts
of copperas and water required to eliminate the greater part of the
D-gossypol as such. The effects of temperature and time of runs were
also studied. We found that 50 per cent water and 1 per cent copperas
at 100 °C for y2 hour changed most of the D-gossypol, but if the experi-ment
was run in an autoclave at 125°C, just as much as D-gossypol was
changed in the controls which contained water but no copperas as in the
samples containing copperas.
These results have led us back to the conclusion indicated by the work
with gases; namely, that the D-gossypol in cotton seed meal is changed
by some agency other than oxidation. It is probably hydrolysis.
Chemistry 33
Our most recent experiments indicate that the greater part of the
D-gossypol may be changed by heating cotton seed meal under pressure
at a sufficiently high temperature, and in the presence of sufficient water.
The optimum conditions have not yet been ascertained. There are indi-cations
that 50 per cent added water at 125 °C for V2 hour or less water
and heating for a longer time or at a higher temperature will yield the
best results.
I wish to express my appreciation of the services of Mr. F. W. Sher-wood
who has been connected with the Division of Chemistry for a little
more than a year. Respectfully submitted,
W. A. "Withers,
Chemist.
REPORT OF THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY DIVISION
To the Director:—Heretofore I have, in my annual report, usually
reviewed in more or less detail the outstanding phases of our livestock
work. This year, however, I am merely giving statements of projects.
If you desire additional information it will be little trouble for me to
place it in your hands as practically all of our work is summarized up to
date.
POULTRY EXPERIMENTS AND PATHOLOGY
B. F. Kaupp, in Charge
Assisted by John E. Ivey, E. G. Wardin
1. "Digestive Coefficiency Studies."
(The preliminary work of determining the time required for feed to
pass through the intestinal tract of fowls at different ages and under
different physical conditions, as for example a hen not laying, one
sitting, one laying. Young growing chicks. Some analytical work has
been done. This work is still in progress at this time.)
2. "Mineral Nutritional Studies."
(We have the mineral content of 20 southern poultry feeds worked
out, having from 1 to 13 analyses of each feed. We have the acid-base
balance or potential alkalinity and potential acidity worked out for
these 20 southern poultry feeds. We have two tests run on growing
chicks from baby chicks to 12 weeks of age to determine mineral
requirements for growth at this age. We have definitely determined
the mineral content of baby chicks, iy2 pound broilers and of hens.
Work is still in progress.)
3. "Breeding Studies in Egg Production."
(a) With Single Comb White Leghorns.
(b) With Single Comb Rhode Island Reds.
(c) With Barred Plymouth Rocks.
(d) Pacts or physical signs which indicate egg production.
(Six generations of breeding high fecundity males on low females.
Work still in progress.)
4. "Practical Breeding Studies."
(a) Animal against vegetable proteins.
(b) Dry Lot vs. Range.
(c) Influence of velvet bean on growth and egg production.
Same for cotton seed meal.
(d) Influence of lights on egg production.
(e) Influence of straw lofts on egg production.
(a) This work is in its second year. Studies were made of compara-tive
rate of growth. Getting the pullets into early laying. Influence on
egg production for first year. Records in office, in annual report, and
used in teaching and in articles. (&) In its sixth year at Iredell Test
Farm and just starting similar work at Pender Test Farm, (c) Velvet
beans and pod influence on fattening birds run at West Raleigh plant,
effect of same on chicks run at Iredell Test Farm. Influence of bean
alone on fattening birds run at Central Plant, West Raleigh. Chick
work at Iredell Test Farm, 1920. (d) Influence of lights on egg pro-
Animal Industry 35
duction run at West Raleigh plant. Now in progress, (e) Influence of
straw lofts on temperature and egg production running now at West
Raleigh plant.)
5. "Market Experiments."
(a) Fleshing Broilers.
(b) Shipping Shrinkage Experiments With Broilers.
(c) Egg Shipping Experiments.
(Considerable data has been amassed and tabulated and studied. Still
in progress.)
6. "Influence of Climatic Conditions on Egg Production."
(Still in progress.)
7. "Studies of the Pathological Laboratory."
(a) Entero-hepatitis of Turkeys.
(b) Diarrheas of Adults.
(c) Diarrheas of Chicks.
(d) Other Apparent Contagious Diseases.
(e) Parasitic Diseases.
(f ) Tumors, Both Malignant and Benign.
(g) Non Contagious Diseases,
(h) Histological studies.
(i) Physiological Studies.
( j ) Anatomical Studies.
(Progress made with all these. For the first time in the world's his-tory
we have written a complete anatomy of the domestic fowl and
illustrated it. W. B. Saunders undertook the publication of it as the
financing was a heavy problem. Same of Diseases of Poultry from a
Medical Standpoint.)
8. "Experimental Extension Poultry Work."
(We furnished 60 sittings of eggs first year and 20 sittings second
year. Good results are being obtained and valuable plans are being
worked out.)
SWINE EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Eael Hostetlek, in Charge
1. "Curing Meat."
(Brine is most satisfactory for curing. Meat from hogs fed on soy-beans
and peanuts and then finished on corn does not shrink any more
than hogs fed on corn and tankage or shorts.)
2. "Peanuts—the Kernel—for Fattening Hogs."
(Work been under way one year only.)
3. "Permanent Pasture for Pigs."
(Each acre of Bermuda saved $9.03 worth of grain.)
4. "Cost of Kaising Pigs to Weaning Time."
(It cost $4.67 to produce an average pig until weaned at ten weeks
of age.)
5. "Salt for Pigs."
(So far we have not found salt to be poisonous.)
36 Fokty-Third Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp. Station
6. "Mineral Mixture and Medications for Wormy and Unthrifty Pigs."
(A mineral mixture—home made—and the National Hog Remedy
were both very beneficial. No particular advantage in using patent
preparation.)
7. "Soybeans and Peanuts for Fattening Hogs."
(Where there is normal yield there is little difference in the amount
of pork made per acre, but the hogs eat the peanuts much quicker than
the soybeans.)
8. "Hardening the Bodies of Hogs After Peanuts."
(Work not been under way long enough for definite conclusions, ex-cept
to say that the bodies can be hardened so they are completely
acceptable.
)
9. "Burr Clover Pastures for Pigs."
(Burr Clover pastures save just about one-half the grain.)
10. "Tankage Versus Fish Meal as Protein Supplements for Fattening
Hogs."
(Fish meal is less palatable than tankage but gives slightly better
and cheaper gains.)
DAIRY EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Stanley Combs, in Charge
1. "Herd Development Work."
(The first crop of heifers to mature shows an increased milk produc-tion
of approximately 1,500 pounds per year over that of the dams as
mature cows. Not all of these animals have come into milk to date.
The indications are that this milk production will be increased by the
heifers that are now maturing.)
2. "Peanut Meal vs. Cotton Seed Meal for Maturing Heifer Calves."
(Have not had sufficient time to mature the oldest heifers.)
3. "Feeding For Milk Production."
(Eleven mature cows showed an increase of 31,741.6 pounds of milk
per year when fed a full ration composed of the same feed that they had
received the year previous, at which time they only received a limited
ration.
)
4. "Home-mixed vs. Eeady-mixed Feeds For the Dairy."
(To date one grain has been fed. This produced slightly less milk
than our home-mixed ration and cost $22 more per ton.)
5. "Cost of Milk Production."
(Published in the N. C. Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 266,
March, 1920, "A Study of the Factors Involved in Producing Milk in
North Carolina.")
6. "Cotton Seed Meal Feeding "Work—Effect on Cows and -Heifers in
Reproduction."
(In cooperation with Beef Cattle Office. To date the work has been
of a preliminary nature. On January first the lot of 24 animals was
divided into five lots, each receiving different rations.)
Animal Industry 37
BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP
R. S. Curtis, in Charge
Assisted by Earl Hostetler, F. F. Peden, George Evans
1. "Milk Sickness, or Trembles."
(Have shown that milk sickness or trembles is caused by weed com-monly
known as Rich Weed or White Snake Root.)
2. "Effect of Cotton Seed Meal on Cows and Heifers in Keproduction."
(In cooperation with Dairy Experimental Office. Have determined
partial effect of cotton seed meal on health, reproduction, and vision.)
3. "Effect of Cotton Seed Meal on Keproductive Qualities of Sheep."
(Have shown that sheep can eat approximately one pound of cotton
seed meal per 100 pounds live weight without producing deleterious
effects.)
4. "Methods and Cost of Maintaining Breeding Ewes and Producing
Lambs."
(Have determined cost of producing lambs and practicability of using
pastures for maintaining sheep.)
5: "Wintering Beef Cattle in Western North Carolina."
(Concluded six years work October 1, 1919. Two official bulletins
from Department of Agriculture.)
6. "Winter Fattening of Beef Cattle."
(Have determined relative value of feeding various quantities of
cotton seed meal under given conditions.)
7. "Sheep Production in Western North Carolina."
(Have determined that sheep can be grown profitably under Western
North Carolina conditions. Main obstacles are poisonous weeds. Tem-porarily
discontinued.
ANIMAL NUTRITIONAL WORK
J. 0. Halverson, in Charge
1. "A Study of 'Soft Pork.' "
(Dr. Halverson has devoted much time since coming with us, April 1,
getting acquainted with our conditions and problems. He now has hold
of the "Soft Pork" problem and has outlined definite plans for continued
investigation.)
2. "Mineral Supplements, Chiefly Calcium, for Southern Animals."
(This is a continuation, with modifications, of the work already
under way.)
3. "Nutritive Value of the Peanut."
(This is a study really supplementary to the "Soft Pork" studies.
The peanut is known to be high in protein and oil, but its nutritive value
in other necessary growth constituents is not so well known. Halverson
is conducting this study with young albino rats to determine the ade-quacy
of (a) the salts present in 30 per cent peanut meal containing the
38 Forty-Third Annual Report ~N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
hulls and in the hulled peanut, (b) the vitamines present, (c) the pro-tein
efficiency for maintenance of growth, (d) the value of alfalfa meal
in supplementing the raw peanut kernel with fat soluble A and inor-ganic
material.)
4. "The Toxicity of White Snake Root."
(See note under Beef Cattle Office.)
5. "Onion Flavor in Milk."
(Dr. Halverson and Combs are continuing this project.)
PUBLICATIONS DURING THE YEAR
The Value of Soybean Meal as a Pood for Chicks, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Fattening Birds for Market, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Secondary Agricultural Schools as a Means of Furthering Poultry Work, by
Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Division of Profits Where Landlord and Tenant Raise Poultry, by Kaupp, in
Poultry Item.
Dry Lot vs. Range Methods of Handling Hens, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Data on Amount of Feed Required to Produce a Dozen Eggs by Hens of Dif-ferent
Breeds, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Factors Which Influence Winter Egg Production, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Prolapse or Eversion of the Oviduct and Cloaca in a Laying Hen, by Kaupp, in
American Journal of Veterinary Medicine.
Bacillary Edema and Suppuration of the Fowl, by Kaupp, in American Journal
of Veterinary Medicine.
Egg and Poultry Markets Before and After the War, by Kaupp, in Progressive
Farmer.
Poultry Score Card, by Kaupp, Extension Circular No. 35.
A Case of Spindle celled Sarcoma of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues, by
Kaupp, in Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association.
Investigation of the Death of Chicks, Coccidian Hepatitis, by Kaupp, in Jour-nal
of American Veterinary Medical Association.
A Study of Some Feed Mixtures with Reference to Their Potential Acidity and
their Potential Alkalinity, by Kaupp, in the Journal of the American
Association of Instructors and Investigators.
A Study of the Factors Involved in Producing Meat in North Carolina, by
Combs, in North Carolina Department Bulletin No. 266.
The Value of a Full Ration for the Dairy Cow, by Combs, in Extension Circu-lar
No. 107.
Better Males Are Needed for the Farm Flock, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
A Study of the Factors Involved in Producing Milk in North Carolina, by
Combs, in North Carolina Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 266.
Score Cards for Mules, by Hostetler, Extension Circular No. 109.
The Value of Mineral Mixtures for Hogs, by Gray and Hostetler, North Caro-lina
Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 268.
Score Card for Draft Horses, by Hostetler, Extension Circular No. 100.
I cannot close the report without commending the good work and ex-cellent
spirit of the men and women connected with the Animal Industry-
Division. Yours very truly,
Dan T. Gray,
Chief, Animal Industry Division.
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
To the Director:—The year has witnessed the accumulation of addi-tional
data on old projects, publications of results in several, and the
taking on of several new projects, outlines of which have been duly filed
with you.
INVESTIGATION WORK
Potato Spraying.—The spraying work with late potatoes has been
continued at the Mountain Branch Station at Swannanoa, in which
work Mr. Leiby and Mr. Haber have had the best cooperation from Mr.
Clapp, superintendent of the farm. The results of five years of this
work were reported in Department Bulletin 254, and show a highly
profitable return from spraying by a regular schedule of applications.
Tests for the third year were conducted on early potatoes in the eastern
part of the State, and we are finding the results there to be more profi-table
than we had anticipated.
The whole subject of spraying potatoes is presented in easily under-stood
form in Extension Circular ~No. 103 by Mr. Leiby, issued March,
1920. Only a lack of labor should stand in the way of every commercial
potato grower in the State following a regular spraying program with
home-made poisoned Bordeaux Mixture. Although the results are less
spectacular because the tubers grow underground, yet the actual profits
are fully as striking as in the spraying of apples.
Larger Com Stalk-borer.—After five years investigation of this insect
by Mr. Leiby, the results have been published in Department Bulletin
274 (August, 1920), and I wish to commend this piece of work in the
highest terms. The careful working out of the life-history of the insect
shows that the farmer who needs to combat it can avoid much of the
trouble by planting May 25 or later, so as to escape injury by the first
generation, which practice will in itself lessen the number of the second
generation. Liberal fertilization helps the corn to outgrow later injury,
and rotation of the crop also lessens liability to attack. Finally a close
study of the winter mortality of the insects shows that plowing out of
the stubble in the fall greatly increases the death-rate among them. All
of which is abundantly supported by observations, recorded data and
field tests. The problem affects mainly the eastern part of the State.
For years I have referred to this project as under investigation, and
it is a pleasure now to point to the published result.
Dusting Late Cabbage to Control Worms.—Tests under this head are
still under way at the Mountain Station, and results continue to show a
profit from dusting the growing plants frequently and lightly with
arsenate of lead and air-slaked lime in proportion of one pound of the
poison to eight pounds of lime.
Pecan Insects.—As indicated in previous report this project is well
advanced, and should be ready for publication in a year or so.
40 Forty-Third Annual Report N". C. x\gri. Exp. Station
Insect Survey.—For nineteen years we carried this permanent and
comprehensive project without special funds and without anyone espe-cially
assigned to it, most of the work during those years heing done by
the writer (Sherman). During that time we built up a card-catalogue
of insects of the State enumerating (December, 1919) 5,254 species. At
the meeting of the Board, December, 1919, provision was made whereby
we engaged Mr. C. S. Brimley, who has since been engaged on this
project. The list has gone forward with increased speed, 493 species
being added thus far during 1920, bringing the total to 5,747 species
(kinds) of insects now known to inhabit the State.
The growth of the State list is but an index—correlated with it is our
constantly growing collection—and from this work we are better enabled
to understand the scope of our field and to solve many puzzling problems
without depending wholly on specialists elsewhere who are crowded with
other work. Many of the additions to the list have been beneficial para-sitic
insects, identified by Mr. Brimley of our own staff. I wish to
re-state the conviction, given from time to time during the past twenty
years, that I can conceive of no project more broad and important in its
whole bearing than this one—it is economic, scientific, biologic—and it
is permanent, we will never exhaust it in the lifetime of any of our
present workers.
Fall Army-worm.—During the summer outbreak of this pest we tested
the use of dust poison at the rate of one pound dry lead arsenate to six
pounds dust lime—this being the same (except a little more concen-trated)
as the mixture we so successfully used against green clover worm
in 1919. It worked well. There is no doubt in our minds that the dry
dust poisons simplify the general problem of controlling sudden out-breaks
of this and related insects on low-growing plants. When we first
surrounded a field with a protective furrow, and then used the dust on
the waste grass around edges inside the furrow, the protection was
virtually complete. The key to success lies in detecting the outbreak,
early, and being so prepared as to apply the measures without delay.
Cutworms.—In the first year's study on this project Mr. Brimley has
reared to maturity a number of species, and is getting data on the rela-tive
abundance of them in the different parts of the State. Thus, while
the list of destructive species at Wilmington may be almost identical
with a similar list from Asheville, yet the one or two species which are
most prevalent in one of these places may not be the ones which are most
prevalent in the other.
Household Insects.—Mr. V. R. Haber is following this project, with
studies of cockroaches, clothes moths, fleas, and others of that general
class. Curiously enough, since we started this project several matters
under this head have come to our attention which were of important
proportions:—(1) a cotton mill had hundreds of spools of yarn which
were cut to pieces in storage by a small worm—and (2) a hosiery mill
Entomology '41
sent samples of manufactured hose which were being riddled by insects.
Such outbreaks in wholesale quantities of clothing materials are too im-portant
to be ignored.
Fall Canker-worm.—An investigation by the writer (Sherman) was
made in May and June in an area on Humpback Mountain, Avery
County, which was attacked for the fourth consecutive year. As this
area, like most of the others involved, consisted of wild forest without
roads, no artificial means of control was practicable, and attention was
centered upon the natural enemies which tend to subdue the worms.
Omitting details, which are on record in our notes, it may be said that
insectivorous birds seemed to gradually concentrate in the area, and the
same s- emed true of certain predaceous insects. Insect parasites of the
worms appeared to be scarce, likewise fungous and bacterial diseases,
but an egg-parasite prevented the hatching of a considerable percentage
of the eggs. In the area studied the defoliation was not as severe as it
had been in previous years, and this gives ground for the hope that the
natural enemies may gradually gain control there and elsewhere,
although some of the areas suffered this year as badly as before.
And thus the problems arise—even when we have a full schedule of
specified projects—sudden and unforeseen outbreaks will create issues
which must be studied at once, even if scheduled ones have to be held
in abeyance for a time. For we have not yet learned to know in advance
what insect problems will arise in any given year.
Respectfully submitted,
Franklin Sherman,
Chief, Division of Entomology.
Report of Entomologist
To the Director:—I have the honor of transmitting herewith a report
covering the work of the Division of Entomology for the past year. The
work of this division is divided between the Hatch and Adams Funds
under the following projects: Hatch Projects, corn ear worm, tobacco
flea beetle, Mediterranean flour moth, and June beetle. Adams Projects,
gloomy scale, pea and bean weevils, melon beetles, corn root worm, and
leaf hoppers.
The corn ear worm project is carried on in cooperation with the
Division of Cereal and Forage Crop Insects, United States Department
of Agriculture and is intended to solve certain methods of control and
also to determine the percentage of injury to corn caused by this insect.
This work has just been inaugurated this year and is not far enough
advanced at the present time to yield any special results. The methods
of determining the percentage of injury have been developed while
prosecuting this project and promise to yield some interesting results,
especially when they have been finally tabulated for all of the principal
varieties of corn grown in the State. The data that have been gathered
42 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
for the past twelve years on time of planting in relation to injury by
ear worm are merely incidental to the corn root worm problem, but they
show some very interesting results in this connection which may be sum-marized
briefly by stating that as a general proposition corn planted
before mid-season for any given locality has a decidedly smaller percent-age
injured by the ear worm. Other phases of this problem are being
followed at Willard, Raleigh, and Swannanoa.
The tobacco flea beetle project is being continued at Oxford an con-sists
principally of trying out methods of control that seem feasible.
These methods have been carried out along four main lines, burning,
dipping, dusting, and cutting.
In burning an effort is made to locate the chief hibernating places of
the beetles and these are thoroughly burned over during the winter. Our
studies have shown that the flea beetles hibernate chiefly around the
edges of fields in woods, along dead furrows, ditch banks, and similar
localities, which give a shelter of dried grass or leaves. It becomes,
therefore, a relatively simple matter to burn over the most favorable
localities in winter, using the ordinary precautions in regard to forest
fires. This method has given excellent results this past year and needs
to be further extended for the coming year.
Dipping the plants at transplanting time has the advantage that it
enables us to put a good application of poison on the plants at a mini-mum
expense and at a time when the plants need the protection very
much indeed. Our experience during the past year would show that
caution is needed in the application of this remedy and further trials
during the coming season will undoubtedly clear up the questionable
points.
During the past year we have carried on rather extensive experiments
in dusting, but the results would seem to indicate that at present prices
the farmer could not afford to dust his tobacco save in very severe out-breaks
of the horn worm or of the flea beetle. These experiments must
be continued, however, to see whether it is not possible to simplify them
to such an extent that the practice would be profitable to the farmer.
For several years your entomologist has urged 'the necessity of the
tobacco farmer keeping down the suckers in the tobacco fields after the
crop is harvested, and never has the importance of this been more ap-parent
than during the past season. If these suckers are allowed to
grow up they furnish ideal conditions for all types of tobacco insects,
but especially for flea beetles. The destruction of these suckers would
drive the flea beetles into hibernation early and this would mean that
most of them would die of starvation before the next spring. Some
experiments conducted this past year show that from 98 to more than
99 per cent of the beetles forced into hibernation before the middle of
September die before tobacco is up in the seed beds the next spring,
whereas in a few cases as many as 60 per cent of the beetles which feed
on tobacco suckers until frost were able to live through the winter. It
Entomology 43
takes but a moment's reflection to see that if the practice of destroying
the suckers should become general the loss due to tobacco insects in this
State would be very materially reduced.
In this connection it seems worth while to note that two tobacco farm-ers
in the eastern part of the State, who have put into practice the recom-mendations
for the control of tobacco flea beetles on tobacco seed beds as
outlined in our Bulletin ~No. 239 on tobacco flea beetle and its control,
that the remedy has proven entirely successful. One farmer who had 25
acres of tobacco reports that the remedy was worth at least $25 an acre
to him ; and another farmer who cultivated 60 acres reports that the rem-edy
was worth $30 an acre to him. These reports are especially encourag-ing
in the light of the fact that it is very difficult to get our tobacco farm-ers
to use any methods of control for tobacco insects. And another phase
of the situation which is especially interesting to me is the fact that these
farmers read our bulletin and put on the demonstration at their own
initiative and carried out all details for themselves, which is sufficient
comment it seems to me on the fact that our bulletins do sometimes reach
the folks for whom they were written. How many other farmers in the
State have done the same thing it is, of course, impossible for us to say.
During the past summer we received notice that one of the largest flour
mills in the State was badly infested with the Mediterranean flour moth.
A preliminary inspection showed that the mill was in a very bad con-dition,
especially in the old wooden mill. Conditions were only about
half as bad in the new brick mill. It was estimated that the mill was
losing about $900 per month from loss of time due to closing down the
mill to clean up, for chemicals used in fumigating and in various other
ways, yet in spite of this the condition was getting gradually worse. It
was decided to fumigate the mill with hydrocyanic acid gas, owing to a
variety of conditions which made it impossible to use heat. In the new
brick mill, which is of modern construction with tight steel sash, the first
fumigation was entirely successful, and not a single moth has been seen
since. In the old mill about a dozen moths were seen after the first
fumigation, so it was immediately fumigated again. After the second
general fumigation only three or four moths were seen, where before
they occurred by the thousands. These seemed to be coming from beneath
the floor and from the boots of the elevators, places not reached by the
general fumigation, so special fumigating jars were devised and these
places fumigated. Since that time not a single moth has been seen.
Thus at a cost estimated at less than $500 this mill has been freed from a
monthly expense of nearly double that amount, and yet with all this
expense they were facing a situation which was gradually growing worse
and which threatened to become unmanageable.
For several years I have been noting the work of the green June beetle
on various crops. It was, therefore, with a great deal of pleasure that I
received and transmitted to you for publication the manuscript of a
bulletin dealing with this pest from Mr. J". J. Davis, now the Entomolo-
44 Forty-Third Annual Report ~N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
gist of the Indiana Experiment Station, embodying the results of several
years work with this insect. This bulletin will make available for our
farmers, fruit growers, and truckers many valuable remedies for the
control of this pest, which is one of our troublesome secondary pests.
Since this bulletin has been written we have found that this insect is
frequently a very troublesome pest to tobacco beds, often practically
destroying them. This past spring one of the large beds at the Oxford
Branch Station was completely riddled by this pest and inquiry developed
the fact that this trouble was more or less general and was usually
attributed to earthworms.
The gloomy scale project has been closed and the manuscript of a bul-letin
covering the more important phases has been prepared for publica-tion
at an early date.
The pea and bean weevil project is being continued, the principal
attention being given to life history studies of three species and to a
study of the effects of drying beans and peas on injury by these weevils.
The corn root worm project is being carried on principally at Willard,
Raleigh and Swannanoa. Data on time of planting show many interest-ing
points, but these must be continued for several years before they are
conclusive.
Most of my time during the past year, however, has been devoted to
the leaf hopper project and in this project we have been following six
principal lines of work. A study of certain forms living on tidal flat
grasses, and certain forms living on mountain pasture, a revision of the
group plant hoppers, a bibliography of the group, and the economics of
some of the more important pests of this group.
The ecological relations of the forms living in the great stretches of
tidal flats along our coast is proving not only interesting but is yielding
results far beyond our expectations. Some of these results have been
summarized in papers appearing in scientific journals which are ap-pended
as a part of this report. The same is also true of the species
living in our mountain pastures, but this work has not been pushed to
the same extent because of the distance to suitable observation points.
The revision of the plant hoppers is about ready for the press and it is
hoped that this will put our knowledge of this group on a better founda-tion
than it has ever been before and make it possible not only for us to
pursue our further studies in this group with better results but that it
will also be useful to other entomologists.
During the course of these studies we have found it necessary to work
out a very careful bibliography of the leaf hoppers of the world. This
work had reached a rather advanced stage and being urged by other stu-dents
it seems desirable to compile this for publication. The size of
this task may be better appreciated when it is known that this bibli-ography
will cover some 2,500 titles which have been published in some
150 separate works, the rest being scattered in about 400 separate jour-
Entomology 45
nals, many of which have run beyond the score of volumes and which have
been published in all of the major European tongues.
More and more we are learning to appreciate the importance of leaf
hoppers as destructive farm pests. And all of the work mentioned above
is being done as a preliminary to real serious work on the economics of
the group. To this end we have been studying a few of the outstanding
pests of the group, especially the apple leaf hopper which is destructive
to soybeans in the east, potatoes in the west, and apples in all sections;
and the clover, alfalfa and grass species.
During the past year the writer has published, or has had accepted for
publication, the following papers, which embody the results of work
carried on by the Station and separates of these papers as far as avail-able
are attached as a part of this report
:
Z. P. Metcalf, a Suggestion for a Better Popular Name for the Pulgoridae
(Hemip.). Entomological News, volume XXXI, pages 57-58.
Z. P. Metcalf, Some Ecological Aspects of the Tidal Zone of the North Caro-lina
Coast. Ecology, volume I, pages 193-197.
Z. P. Metcalf, Dipping Tobacco Plants at Transplanting Time for the Con-trol
of the Tobacco Plea Beetle (Epitrix parvilla Pabr. ). Journal of Economic
Entomology, volume XIII, pages 398-400.
Z. P. Metcalf, Labeling Illustrations, Transactions of the American Micro-scopical
Society, volume XXXIX, pages 146-162.
Z. P. Metcalf and Herbert Osborn, Some Observations on Insects of the
Between Tide Zone of the North Carolina Coast. Annals of the Entomological
Society of America, volume XIII, pages 108-117.
Z. P. Metcalf and Herbert Osborn, Life History Notes on Tibicen viridifas-ciata
Walker. In press.
Z. P. Metcalf and Herbert Osborn, A List of the Cicadellidae of Swannanoa.
In press.
Respectfully submitted,
Z. P. Metcalf,
Entomologist.
REPORT OF DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE
To the Director:—I herewith submit the report of the experimental
work in the Division of Horticulture for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1920.
The experimental work of the division is being continued along the
lines of the projects described in previous reports.
During the year considerable attention has been given to a more
thorough direction and organization of the work. The organization of
investigation so that direct attention to problems of outstanding im-portance
may be developed has been borne in mind. Every attempt is
being made to develop a program of work which will contain live projects
definitely adapted to fundamental and special problems of the State.
The projects are being organized so that problems of first importance
will be selected and so that the expenditure of funds and energy on prob-lems
of only local application will be limited. Every project is reviewed
each year with a critical attitude to see if it is fulfilling the purpose for
which it was intended.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN POMOLOGY
1. Variety Work in Pomology (C. D. Matthews and J. M. Dyer).
Notes and observations on the behavior of varieties of fruits in the
different sections of the State are made from year to year. These notes
and observations show the range of adaptability of the varieties in differ-ent
sections.
Much time and care is expended each year in writing, revising and
checking descriptions of almost all of the important varieties of fruit
grown in the State. These descriptions are to be used in future publica-tions,
and are employed by the division as an aid in identifying varie-ties
of fruit sent to the office from over the State.
2. Native Fruits of North Carolina (C. D. Matthews).
The place of origin, the history, and the description of a number of
varieties of North Carolina origin have been secured. When oppor-tunity
offered the descriptions of varieties secured previous to this season
were verified. Paintings and photographs have been made of the most
important varieties. y
3. Investigational Work with Peaches (Mountain Station, Truck Sta-tion,
Piedmont Station, Coastal Plain Station). (C. D. Matthews
and J. M. Dyer.)
(a)
"Dehorning" Peach Trees. During this last season additional
progress with the peach "dehorning" project has been made. From the
results so far secured it has been shown that in years when the buds are
killed by cold, "dehorning" is a profitable practice in renewing old trees.
It has been found that the operation may be done relatively late in the
spring with satisfactory results.
Horticulture 47
(b) Peach Breeding. It is the object of this propect to produce im-proved
commercial varieties that are more suited to North Carolina
conditions than are the present varieties. It is the purpose, also, to
produce varieties hardier in bud than the present commercial sorts.
To provide working material for this project a variety orchard, con-taining
over 60 different varieties of peaches, was planted at the Truck
Station during 1917. These trees have made a very satisfactory growth
since being planted. During the last year nearly all the varieties had a
partial crop and some very valuable preliminary work was done in
regard to collecting data concerning the characteristics of the different
varieties. There is a good set of fruit buds on the trees and active work
is to be done on this project during the following year.
(c) Hardiness of Peach Varieties in Western North Carolina. Twenty
varieties of peaches, comprising varieties adapted both to extreme north-ern
and to southern conditions, were planted at the Mountain Station in
the spring of 1919 to furnish material for work on determining the
relative hardiness of different peach varieties in Western North Caro-lina.
These trees have made a very satisfactory growth since being
planted.
(d) Phenological Studies with Peaches. The practice of collecting
phenological notes on the peach varieties in the varietal peach orchard
at the Truck Station was started during the spring of 1920. These notes
will be of immense value in handling the breeding project.
(e) Variety Testing with Peaches. Full notes were taken on the be-havior
of over 50 varieties of peaches at the Truck Station. Descriptions
of these varieties were secured.
4. Investigational Work with Pecans. (Truck Station, Coastal Plain
Station and Piedmont Station.) (C. D. Matthews and J. M. Dyer.)
(a) Variety Testing. Twenty-two of the most important southern
varieties are included in this test which has been conducted for 14 years.
Gratifying results are being secured from this work, as certain varieties
are showing marked adaptability to North Carolina conditions, while
others are proving to be undesirable. At this time, valuable recom-mendations
regarding pecan varieties for planting in this State can be
made. According to the results secured the Schley, Stuart, and Alley
varieties are the most desirable for Eastern North Carolina.
(b) Individual Tree Performance Records. The securing of perform-ance
records of the individual pecan trees in the experimental orchards
at the several stations is being continued from year to year. Such a
record affords a more detailed study of the behavior of the different
varieties. As a result of the individual tree performance records it has
been noted that trees of the same variety under identical conditions are
uniformly heavy yielders, while others are very poor producers, that
some produce uniformly large nuts and others uniformly small nuts. As
these individual performance records suggest the possibility of improv-
48 Forty-Third Annual Report ~N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
ing and standardizing individual yields by bud selection, work has been
started along this line.
(c) Cultural Practices. The value of correct cultural practices, such
as tillage and the use of cover crops, is clearly shown in the increased
size of trees and in the increased size and number of nuts produced when
compared to trees and their products grown in sod. To determine the
most desirable system of tillage and cover cropping to be employed in
pecan orchards, work of this nature is being conducted at the Branch
Stations.
(d) Pecan Breeding. The seedlings, as a result of pecan breeding
work, that were set in 1915 at the Truck Station, are making a satis-factory
growth. Some of these seedlings are of bearing size and should
produce some nuts during the coming year.
(e) Toy-working Pecan Trees. The investigations dealing with the
methods of budding and grafting employed in top-working pecan trees
was continued this year. It has been found that a combination of both
grafting and budding should be used to secure the most satisfactory
results. As a result of years of investigation it is the opinion of this
division that top-working should be confined, as a general rule, to trees
not over 8 to 10 years old, to be entirely successful.
(f) Cracking Tests with Pecan Varieties. The cracking test of the
different varieties is made each year. The cracking test is a necessary
adjunct to the performance record of a given variety in determining its
value in a certain section. Very often a variety is highly satisfactory
from a productive standpoint, but the cracking test shows it to be nearly
worthless from an utility viewpoint. The cracking test shows the num-ber
of nuts per pound and determines the per cent of unbroken halves the
variety will crack out, the per cent of shrunken kernels, the per cent of
physiological spot, the per cent of faulty nuts, and shape and size of the
kernels, the texture, quality and flavor of meat, the per cent of meat and
the thickness of shell. As a result of these cracking tests conducted each
year certain varieties that were satisfactory from a productive standpoint
proved to be totally unsuited to North Carolina conditions.
5. Investigational Work with Strawberries. (Truck Station.) (C. IX
Matthews and L. H. Nelson.)
(a) Variety Testing. The variety testing project with strawberries
was initiated with the purpose of determining whether or not there were
any other varieties more desirable as commercial market varieties than
Klondike and Missionary, the two leading commercial varieties. For
this State the most profitable berry combines the characteristics of pro-ductiveness,
earliness, and shipping quality. None of the varieties so far
tested have shown themselves superior to Klondike and Missionary as
commercial varieties. Several of the varieties have shown themselves
valuable for home use.
HORTICULTURE 49
(b) Cultural Practices. During the year experiments to determine
the most desirable planting dates were conducted, as well as work to
determine the value of removing blossoms and cutting runners. This
project has not been in operation a sufficient length of time to furnish
any conclusive information.
6. Investigations with Apples. (C. D. Matthews and J. M. Dyer.)
(Mountain Station.)
(a) Pruning. The pruning project was begun during the year with
the intention of securing information on the desirable height to head
apple trees, to determine the comparative value of the open head and
the modified leader system of training, and to secure information on the
amount of annual pruning most desirable. To supply material for this
work an orchard containing approximately 128 trees, was planted at the
Mountain Station in the spring of 1919. The trees have made a very
satisfactory growth and the first year's work has been completed as
planned.
(b) Apple Thinning. (Mountain Station and Piedmont Station.)
Experiments to determine the effect of thinning fruits and leaves from
the fruit spurs of the apple were initiated. Work on this project has not
been conducted a sufficient length of time to supply information on the
subject.
(c) Summer Apples. (Truck Station.) The variety orchard of sum-mer
apples at the Truck Station bore its first crop of any size this year.
Notes and descriptions were taken on each variety.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN VEGETABLE CULTURE
1. Investigational Work with Sweet Potatoes. (Truck Station.) (C. D.
Matthews and L. H. Nelson.)
(a) Variety Testing. It is the purpose of this work to determine the
most desirable varieties of sweet potatoes for eastern North Carolina
from the standpoint of productivity, market value, keeping quality, and
quantity. There were 19 varieties under observation this year. The
results were, in the main, confirmatory of the work of previous seasons.
Certain varieties have proven their desirability while others have shown
themselves to be undesirable.
(b) Storage. In connection with the variety work, storage tests are
being made from year to year in the storage house to determine the
behavior of the different varieties in storage. Certain varieties have
proven themselves to be better keepers than others.
To facilitate the storage investigational work an additional curing
room was constructed during the summer.
Investigations to determine the relation of time or digging to keeping
quality, the relation of proper harvesting to keeping quality, the proper
method of curing, and the correct management of the house, have been
continued this season. *
4—
50 Fokty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
As a result of this work the division can authoritatively make recom-mendations
regarding varieties for storage and the most desirable meth-ods
to employ in the management of the storage house.
(c) Cultural Practices. During the year work was conducted to
secure information on the following different cultural practices
:
The comparative value of slips vs. vine cuttings as regards produc-tivity.
The effect of ridging on productivity and type of potatoes.
The effect of vine cutting on yield.
(d) Seed Selection. The following lines of work dealing with the
seed selection of sweet potatoes were conducted during the year
:
To determine the relative value of seed stock from high yielding and
low yielding hills as regards productivity and uniformity of potatoes.
To determine the relative value of vine cuttings as compared with slips
for maintaining yield and type, commencing from the same hill.
To determine the comparative value of large and small potatoes for
seed.
To determine the comparative value of seed from late vine cuttings
and seed from main crop draws as regards productivity, type, and keep-ing
quality.
Very satisfactory progress should be reported on this project for this
year.
2. Investigational Work with Irish Potatoes. (Mountain Station and
Truck Station.) (C. D. Matthews, L. H. Nelson, and S. C. Clapp.)
(a) Variety Testing (Mountain Station). The testing of varieties of
Irish potatoes to determine the most desirable varieties for Western
North Carolina conditions was continued this year with 20 varieties.
The testing has been in progress for a sufficient length of time to afford
this division with the necessary information to make reliable recommen-dations
regarding the choice of varieties for the western part of the State.
(b) Variety Testing (Truck Station). Satisfactory progress should
be reported on the work to determine the most desirable early varieties
for Eastern North Carolina and the best varieties for the second crop.
(c) Hill and Tuber Unit Selection Work (Mountain Station.) The
hill and tuber unit selection method of variety improvement is being
employed in an attempt to produce strains of the best varieties with
greater productivity and more desirable characters.
(d) Cultural Practices (Truck Station). Work was conducted to
determine the effects of different cultural practices on the yield of pota-toes.
Practices receiving consideration were:
Width of rows.
Distance apart in the rows.
Ereshly cut or stored cut seed.
Effect of sprouting on yield.
Cut versus uncut seed.
Horticulture 51
(e) Testing the Value of Different Sources of Seed. Experiments
were conducted to determine the comparative value of Maine grown
seed, second crop seed produced in the Coastal Plain, and Western North
Carolina seed in different stages of maturity as the most desirable seed
for the early crop of Irish potatoes in Eastern North Carolina. This
work has not been in existence a sufficient length of time to furnish con-clusive
results.
3. Investigational Work with Cabbage. (Mountain Station.) (C. D.
Matthews, L. H. Nelson, and S. C. Clapp.)
(a) Variety Testing. The testing of varieties of cabbage to determine
the most desirable varieties for Western North Carolina was continued
this year. The testing has been in progress for a sufficient length of
time to afford this division with the necessary information to make
reliable recommendations regarding the choice of varieties for the west-ern
part of the State.
4. Observation Garden. (Truck Station.) (C. D. Matthews and L. H.
Nelson.)
The all-year observation garden at the Truck Station has proven very
valuable in supplying information regarding varieties and planting
dates of different vegetables for Eastern North Carolina. It has been
of value also as a demonstration in gardening and has been an inspira-tion
to many visitors who have seen it.
Respectfully submitted,
C. D. Matthews,
Acti

A55 N^rth Carolina State Library
1920 ^c
FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY THE
North Carolina Department of Agriculture
North Carolina State College of
Agriculture and Engineering
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1920
North Carolina State Library
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh ^1
FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Doc
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY THE
North Carolina Department of Agriculture
North Carolina State College of
Agriculture and Engineering
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1920
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL
Ealeigh, X. C., June 30, 1920.
To His Excellency, T. W. Bickett,
Governor of North Carolina.
Sir :—I have the honor to submit herewith report of the operations of
the Agricultural Experiment Station, conducted jointly by the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina State Col-lege
of Agriculture and Engineering, for the year ended June 30, 1920.
This work is under the immediate direction of the "Joint Committee for
Agricultural Work," provided for in chapter 68 of the Public Laws of
1913, and amended by chapter 223 of the Public Laws of 1917, and the
report is made in accordance with the requirements of the act of Con-gress,
approved March 2, 1887, and known as the Hatch Act.
Very respectfully,
B. "W. KlLGORE,
Director.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Letter of Submittal 3
Staff of Workers..., 5
General Summary of the Work of the Station During the Year 7
Financial Report 13
Report of the Division of Agronomy 15
Report of the Division of Chemistry 32
Report of the Division of Animal Industry 31
Report of the Division of Entomology 39
Report of the Division of Horticulture 10
Report of the Division of Plant Pathology and Bacteriology 53
Report of the Division of Markets and Rural Organization 59
Report on Drainage 67
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE
*Governor T. W. Bickett, Chairman.
M. B. Stickley Concord *T. T. Thorne Rocky Mount
T. T. Ballinger Tryon *C. W. Gold Greensboro
W. H. Williamson Raleigh T. E. Vann Como
*0. L. Clark Clarkton P. S. Boyd Mooresville
Everett Thompson Elizabeth City W. E. Daniel Weldon
R. H. Ricks. • Rocky Mount *W. H. Ragan High Point
W. R. Bonsal Hamlet H. L. Stevens Warsaw
D. R. Noland Crabtree A. M. Dixon Gastonia
*W. C. Riddick (President College) West Raleigh
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
*W. A. Graham, Chairman.
F. P. Latham Belhaven *A. T. McCallum Red Springs C W. Mitchell L Aulander *C. C. Wright Hunting Creek
*R. L. Woodard Pamlico W. C. Grier Grassy Creek
*Clarence Poe_. Raleigh H. Q. Alexander Matthews
R. W. Scott Haw River A. Cannon . Horse Shoe
STAFF OF THE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION AND EXTENSION SERVICE
ADMINISTRATION
B. W. Kilgore Director of Experiment Station and Extension Service
C. B. Williams Vice-Director Experiment Station
R. W. Collett Assistant Director, Branch Station
R. W. Green Agricultural Editor
A. F. Bowen Bursar
Miss S. D. Jones Bursar
Miss Mary S. Birdsong Secretary to director
H. C. Evans . Auditor and Executive Assistant
AGRONOMY
C. B. Williams.-. Chief in Agronomy ]\N. E. Hearn „ Soil Survey
W. F. Pate Soil Agronomist fS. O. Perkins... Assistant in Soil Survey
S. K. Jackson.. Assistant in Soils S. F. Davidson Assistant in Soil Survey
H. B. Mann Assistant in Soils W. A. Davis Assistant in Soil Survey
R. Y. Winters Plant Breeding Agronomist fR- E. Devereux Assistant in Soil Survey
S. W. Hill Assistant in Plant Breeding W. D. Lee Assistant in Soil Survey
P. H. Kime Assistant in Plant Breeding fE. H. Mathewson Tobacco Expert
G. M. Garren Assistant in Plant Breeding A. R. Russell, Assistant in Field Experiments
fM. W. Hensel, Specialist in Sugar Plant Production
CHEMISTRY
W. A. Withers Chemist W. G. Haywood Fertilizer Chemist
J. K. Plummer S^te Chemist E. S. Dewar Assistant Chemist
F. W. Sherwood Assistant Chemist G. L. Arthur Assistant Chemist
J. M. Pickel Feed Chemist B. C. Williams Assistant Chemist
ENTOMOLOGY
Franklin Sherman, Jr.. .Chief in Entomology fC. L. Sams Bee-keeping
Z. P. Metcalf Entomologist W. B. Mabee.. ..Extension Entomologist
R. W. Leiby Assistant Entomologist C. S. Brimley Assistant Entomologist
V. R. Haber ..Assistant Entomologist T. D. Mitchell Assistant Entomologist
HORTICULTURE
C. D. Matthews, ... L. H. Nelson Assistant Horticulturist
Acting Chief, Division of Horticulture J. M. Dyer Assistant Horticulturist
J. P. Pillsbury Horticulturist P. T. Schooley Extension Horticulturist
L. R. Detjen Assistant Horticulturist
ANIMAL INDUSTRY
Dan T. Gray Chief in Animal Industry John E. Ivey Asst., Poultry Investigations
R. S. Curtis Associate in Animal Industry fF. R. Farnham Assistant in Dairy Farming
Stanley Combs Dairy Experimenter fA. C. Kimrey Assistant in Dairy Farming
B. F. Kaupp, fD. R. Noland Assistant in Dairy Farming
Poultry Investigator and Pathologist |F. T. Peden Assistant in Beef Cattle
tJ. A. Arey. Dairy Farming Earl Hostetler,
fW. W. Shay Swine Extension Assistant in Beef Cattle and Swine
fA. G. Oliver Poultry Extension IGeorge Evans.. .Assistant in Sheep Extension
E. C. Wardin Asst., Poultry Investigations J. O. HALVERSbN Nutrition Specialist
PLANT PATHOLOGY
F. A. Wolf Plant Pathologist S. G. Lehman Assistant in Bacteriology
R. A. Jehle Extension Pathologist
DRAINAGE
fH. M. Lynde Senior Drainage Engineer F. O. Bartel Junior Drainage Engineer
MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION
Gorrell Shumaker Marketing Fruits and Vegetables
J. H. Henley. Credit Unions
tP. H. Hart.. Cotton Grading
fj. P. Brown Warehouse Inspection and Operation
fj. M. Workman Warehouse Construction
FARM MANAGEMENT
t J. M. Johnson Farm Management
BRANCH STATIONS
F. T. Meacham Assistant Director, Iredell Branch Station
C. E. Clark Assistant Director, Edgecombe Branch Station
E. G. Moss Assistant Director, Granville Branch Station
S. C. Clapp Assistant Director, Buncombe Branch Station
A. S. Cline.. Assistant Director, Black Land Branch Station
R. W. Collett Assistant Director, Pender Branch Station
FARM FORESTRY
H. B. Krausz Farm Forestry Specialist
FARM ENGINEERING
E. R. Raney Farm Machinery, Extension
FARM DEMONSTRATION WORK
C. R. Hudson State Agent
H. H. B. Mask Assistant State Agent
E. S. Millsaps. District Agent, Piedmont District
T. D. McLean.. District Agent, Cerltral District
J. M. Gray ,... District Agent, Mountain District
O. F. McCrary District Agent, Northeastern District
E. W. Gaither District Agent, Southeastern District
HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
Mrs. Jane S. McKimmon State Home Demonstration Agent
Miss Laura M. Wingfield. Assistant State Home Demonstration Agent
Mrs. Eunice P. McCrary Tidewater District Agent
Mrs. Estelle T. Smith Eastern District Agent
Mrs. Cornelia C. Morris Central District Agent
Miss Maude E. Wallace Piedmont District Agent
Mrs. Mittie M. Henley j Mountain District Agent
The members marked with * are members of the Joint Committee for Agricultural Work, and
the Station is under their direction.
fin cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture.
FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station
B. W. Kilgore, Director
During the year covered by this annual report the Experiment Station
felt the effects of the readjustments going on throughout the country,
and in common with other institutions suffered from the lack of funds
necessary to meet the rising costs of conducting experimental work. A
number of separations from the staff occurred, the men going to other
institutions or into commercial work at increased salaries.
Under these conditions the development of new lines of work was
impossible, although every effort was made to continue lines of experi-mental
work already under way, and considerable progress has been
made, despite the handicaps under which the Experiment Station has
operated.
CHANGES IN STAFF
Since the last annual report changes in staff were made as follows
:
Resignations.—E. C. Brintnall, assistant in dairy farming; J. W.
Schloss, assistant in beef cattle; S. J. Kirby, assistant in plant breeding;
S. G. Rubinow, assistant to the Director ; F. H. Jeter, agricultural edi-tor
; Charles S. Jones, specialist in marketing livestock; Boiling Hall,
assistant in marketing fruits and vegetables; A. N. Pratt, assistant in
marketing perishables ; R. W. Collett, assistant director branch stations
;
J. K. Plummer, soil chemist ; L. R. Detjen, assistant horticulturist ; J. E.
Eckert, assistant entomologist ; O. J. McConnell, assistant in cotton
grading and marketing.
Appointments.—B. E. Brown, chief division of markets ; J. H. Henley,
specialist in credit unions; W. W. Magill, assistant in marketing fruits
and vegetables; R. W. Green, agricultural editor; and F. E. Miller,
assistant director branch stations.
The following paragraphs, under divisional headings, give brief sum-maries
of the progress of experimental work during the year, further
details being included in the reports of the chiefs of divisions.
AGRONOMY
The soil survey work, which is regarded as a necessary foundation for
agronomic studies, was completed in Tyrrell, Durham, Buncombe, and
Guilford counties, and some work done in Onslow.
Soil fertility studies have been continued and the use of commercial
fertilizers, lime, and crop rotations, including legumes, have been studied
hLQrth ^Carolina
8 Forty-Third Annual Report N\ C. Aori. Exp. Station
and results given to farmers of the State. It is of paramount import-ance
that soils be built up and kept in a productive state and this idea
has been constantly in mind in the experiments carried on by the Divis-ion
of Agronomy.
At the Washington farm fertilizer experiments on peat soil were con-tinued,
and results of three year's tests indicate that more than one ton
of lime to the acre is needed and that marl is not quite as efficient a car-rier
of calcium as are other forms of lime.
In fertilizer experiments at Pender farm using corn, oats, vetch, and
cotton in a three-year rotation; with a cover crop on the land, results
since 1915 have indicated that nitrogen is the constituent most needed
for better crop yields. Phosphoric acid with nitrogen has given more
increases than potash with nitrogen.
Results of tests made at Edgecombe farm show as a whole that farmers
of the coastal plain section are not using enough fertilizer for cotton and
that the formulas used are not the best for the most economical produc-tion.
More nitrogen and potash should be used with the phosphoric
acid remaining about the same, or slightly reduced.
Tests at Iredell continue to show that with the types of soils at this
farm, phosphoric acid and nitrogen are the controlling factors for better
crop yields. Lime and legumes seem to increase the efficiency of the
fertilizer in producing larger crop yields.
The experiments at Central Test Earm having brought out the import-ance
of having more vegetable matter incorporated in the soil so that
crops will be better enabled to take advantage of the applications of
fertilizer.
In the rotation experiment on the Buncombe farm good results were
obtained where lime was used with red clover. The legume plots show
much better than where no cover crop was used.
Tobacco experiments at Reidsville gave striking evidence of the effect
of seasonal conditions on the action of fertilizers. Muriate of potash
afforded more protection against "wild fire" than did sulphate of potash,
and the muriate also gave considerable immunity from "sand-drown"
and produced a larger growth than the sulphate.
Cotton variety studies were continued during the year and the strains
of cotton isolated in 1913, and self-fertilized since that time, have shown
no loss of vigor due to inbreeding. During the last six years strain
No. 29 has averaged 2,061.78 pounds of lint to the acre, while ~No. 22,
an inferior strain, has averaged only 985.1 pounds of lint to the acre.
Branch stations are being stocked with good strains of field crops to
serve as a source for good seed for their sections, xlt the present time
cotton, corn, wheat, oats, rye, soybeans, and vetch are included in this
crop improvement work.
CHEMISTRY
Experiments with the object of the elimination of gossypol and
D-gossypol from cotton seed and meal were continued, using air, oxygen,
Director's Summary 9
and carbon dioxide. By varying the temperature, the amount of water
present, and the time of action, it was found that a part of the gossypol
and D-gossypol in kernels could be changed to other forms by the more
severe treatments, but that it was difficult to reduce the amount of these
two substances to the average gossypol and D-gossypol content of cotton
seed meal.
Tests with chemicals were also made which tended to show that the
D-gossypol in cotton seed meal is changed by some agency other than
oxidation.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY
Investigational work with poultry has progressed very satisfactorily
during the year, and for the first time a complete anatomy of the
domestic fowl, with illustrations, has been prepared by the division.
The mineral content of twenty southern poultry feeds has been worked
out, having from one to thirteen analyses of each feed, and the acid-base
balance or potential alkalinity and potential acidity worked out for
these feeds.
The work with swine has shown that it costs $4.67 to raise a pig until
it is weaned at the age of ten weeks. Home-made mineral mixture for
wormy and unthrifty pigs has proven beneficial, and so far salt is not
found to be poisonous to pigs. Permanent pasture experiments have
shown that each acre of Bermuda saves $9.03 worth of grain, while Bur
Clover pastures save about half the grain. In fattenings hogs with soy-beans
and peanuts it has been found that there is little difference in the
amount of pork per acre, but hogs eat peanuts much quicker than soy-beans,
and in curing, the meat does not shrink any more when the hogs
are fed on soybeans and peanuts and finished on corn than when fed on
corn and tankage and shorts. Brine is most satisfactory for curing.
In the dairy experiment work eleven mature cows show an increase of
31,741.6 pounds of milk a year when fed a full ration composed of the
same feed they received the year previous, at which time they were given
a limited ration. The first crop of heifers shows an increased milk pro-duction
of approximately 1,500 pounds a year over that of the dams as
mature cows. It has been found that ready mixed feeds produce slightly
less milk than our home-mixed, and costs $22 more a ton.
Experiments in sheep feeding have shown that sheep can eat approxi-mately
one pound of cotton seed meal per hundred pounds live weight
without producing deleterious effects. Sheep can be grown profitably in
Western North Carolina, the main obstacles being poisonous weeds.
ENTOMOLOGY
During the year additional data on old projects has been accumulated
and several new projects undertaken.
The work with spraying late potatoes has shown highly profitable
returns from spraying by a regular schedule of applications, using the
lome-made Bordeaux Mixture.
10 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
Provisions have been made for insect survey work on a larger scale
than heretofore, and this has gone forward with increased speed. Four
hundred and ninety-three species of insects have been added during 1920
to the list of insects known to inhabit the State, making a total list of
5,747.
Outbreaks of Tall Army-Worm occurred during the summer and a dust
poison of one pound of dry lead arsenate to six pounds of dust lime was
found successful in controlling these outbreaks. By surrounding a field
with a protective furrow and using the dust on the waste grass around
the edges inside the furrows, protection is found to be virtually complete.
The tobacco flea beetle project has been continued, the different
methods used for control are burning, dipping, dusting, and cutting.
Investigational work with June beetle, corn root worm, and leaf hopper
has also been continued during the year with satisfactory results.
HORTICULTURE
The work this year has been continued along the same lines as covered
in previous reports. The place of origin, history, and description of a
number of varieties of fruit of North Carolina origin have been secured,
and descriptions secured previous to this season were verified.
Investigational work with peaches has been continued, special atten-tion
being given to dehorning, breeding, and the testing of fifty varieties.
During the spring of 1920 phenological notes on the different varieties
were taken at the Truck Station, which will be of immense value in
handling breeding project.
Gratifying results are being secured by variety tests of twenty-two
pecan trees, certain varieties showing marked adaptability to North
Carolina conditions while others are proving to be undesirable. The
value of correct cultural practices is shown by the increased size of
trees and* size and number of nuts produced. Top-working pecan trees
has been continued, and it has been found that top-working should be
confined to trees not over eight to ten years old to be entirely successful.
As the result of cracking tests conducted during the year, certain varie-ties
that were satisfactory from a productive standpoint proved to be
totally unsuited to North Carolina conditions.
The results of the investigational work with strawberries, Irish pota-toes,
and apples were, in the main, confirmatory of the work of previous
seasons.
Through research investigations in connection with Muscadine grapes,
a considerable amount of data has been accumulated.
PLANT PATHOLOGY AND BACTERIOLOGY
In the studies of tobacco diseases it has been found that tobacco wild-fire
is seed-borne through use of seed from infected pods, that covers from
old plant beds may be contaminated, and that the organism may over-winter
in the soil.
Director's Summary 11
Experimental work with vetch diseases has shown that fungus is initi-ated
in new fields by planting infected seed. The studies on this disease
have been completed and are in press.
Certain selected strains of wheat have been found to be resistant in
the Middle West to both stem rust and leaf rust, and the agronomic
value of these varieties is being studied in cooperation with the Division
of Agronomy. The first year's results show that they possess very strik-ing
resistance but are inferior in yield to varieties known to be adapted
to this section.
Investigational work on a few definite plant diseases of cotton, cow-peas,
lima beans, figs, pepper, soybeans, and tomatoes has been con-ducted
and records made of the diseases studied.
MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION
Investigations and observations show that there is need for a more
remunerative plan of marketing eggs and poultry, especially in the Pied-mont
and Western sections of the State, where these products are sold
locally either at stores, to dealers, or to produce wagons, and when sold
in this way farmers do not get what they should for their products. In
the eastern part of the State fairly good prices have been obtained by
shipping to Norfolk, but for a higher quality product better prices could
be obtained farther North.
In order to assist in the sale of cattle a fairly complete list of the
feeder and stocker cattle for sale in the western part of the State has
been prepared and distributed, and a number of carloads were placed in
this way. A cattlemens' association has been formed and a cooperative
sale of cattle was held at Spruce Pine in September, where 700 head of
cattle were sold. Cooperative shipments of cattle have been limited as in
many instances the prices obtained in the State have been from % to 1%
cents a pound above northern markets, freight and "drift" considered.
However, cooperative shipments of hogs have been carried on in eleven
counties, and in this way local prices were advanced from 1 to 3 cents a
pound.
Better prices for lambs have been obtained through cooperative
marketing, but the wool market was so demoralized that growers shipped
their wool to Elkin where it was made into blankets and satisfactory
prices were obtained for these.
Owing to a shortage in the seed supply of cowpeas and soybeans,
growers who did not sell hastily received an increase in price of more
than two dollars a bushel. Advertising in the Farmers' Market Bulletin
was permitted to growers, provided they guaranteed the purity of variety
and germination.
Many growers shipped their surplus stock of sweet potatoes outside
the State, and it was found that it is not safe to ship bank-stored sweets
any great distance. They rot very badly even in short hauls if the cars
12 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
are not well ventilated. Studies of storage houses have indicated that
good marketable stock will keep in excellent condition, provided the
principles under which the storages operate are not overlooked. South-ern
farmers have a good opportunity on northern markets if they ship a
good quality article at all times.
Considerable improvement has been made in the grading and packing
of fruits as the result of inspection work, and already the grades as
recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture have been
adopted as the legal standard for North Carolina strawberries, potatoes,
sweet potatoes, and apples.
DRAINAGE
Records at the gaging station for the determination of the run-off on
Third Creek Canal, Iredell County, are complete to date, and it has been
found that the average annual run-off on Third Creek is approximately
43 per cent of the average annual rainfall. To obtain an approximate
true rainfall it is necessary to average the rainfalls of. several stations
scattered over the watershed.
The experiments on two tile drainage systems at the Cotton Valley
Farm, located in Edgecombe County, have been completed. The soils
are known as second terrace deposits and are common to the second bot-tom
lands along many of the rivers in Eastern North Carolina. In an
area of 200 acres 12 different soil types were identified, but the texture of
the soil is even more variable.
Experiments on the J. T. Lewis Farm in Pitt County have shown that
this sandy loam soil is of an open nature and responds almost immedi-ately
to tile drainage if an outlet for the water is provided. Most of
the drains on this tract have a grade of 0.30 per cent or more and all
are apparently in good working order.
Approximately 100 acres of muck soil at Black Land Station in
Washington County have been underdrained, and 69 wells for determin-ing
the action of the underdrains in lowering the ground water level
were installed. It is yet too early to draw any definite conclusions from
the experiments, except to state that it is apparently impossible to over-drain
these muck soils.
Various special investigations and studies have been made during the
year in addition to these.
PUBLICATIONS
Two Technical Bulletins have been published during the year, No. 17,
"The Limits in Hybridization of Vitis Rotundifolia with Related
Species and Genera," and No. 18. "Some E. Hybrids of Vitis Rotundi-folia
with Related Species and Genera/' with an edition of 5,000 copies
each, of which about 8,000 have been mailed. An annual report of 1,000
copies was issued and distributed.
Financial Report 13
The Department of Agriculture has issued a monthly bulletin, to-gether
with eight supplements, which have been edited and the printing
of them superintended from this office. We have mailed about 12,000 of
these to the libraries and different specialists and to the small lists
which are not routed according to postomce regulations. Many results
of the work at the station have been printed in these bulletins.
All small printing for the station has been handled through this
office, and multigraph material has been edited and distributed to the
mailing lists maintained by the station. The Extension Farm News and
special news service have been used in keeping the experimental work of
the station before the public.
The reports of the. heads of the divisions and the financial statement
follow
:
FINANCIAL REPORT
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, in Account
With the United States Appropriation, 1919-1920:
Dr.
Hatch Fund Adams Fund
To receipts from the Treasurer of the United States,
as per appropriations for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1920, under acts of Congress approved
March 2, 1887 (Hatch Fund), and March 16, 1906
(Adams Fund) $15,000.00 $15,000.00
Cr.
Salaries $ 9,692.20 $15,000.00
Labor 1,535.86
Postage and stationery 301.98
Freight and express 78.08
Fertilizers 1,341.88
Feeding stuffs 2,000.00
Livestock 50.00
Total $15,000.00 $15,000.00
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, in Account
With Farm and Miscellaneous Receipts.
Dr.
Receipts from other sources than the United States for the year
ending June 30, 1920 $ 7,793.08
Balance on hand 4,074.49
$11,867.57
Overdraft June 30, 1920 351.48
Total $12,219.05
14 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT
Or.
Labor $ 4,152.74
Publications k 340.09
Postage and stationery 15.63
Freight and express 27.11
Heat, light, water, and power 321.14
Chemicals and laboratory supplies 518.98
Seeds, plants, and sundry supplies 878.77
Fertilizers 3.00
Feeding stuffs 2,275.79
Library 592.34
Tools, machinery, and appliances 794.11
Furniture and fixtures 50.35
Scientific apparatus and specimens .' 27.35
Traveling expenses 607.05
Buildings and land 1,614.60
Total $ 12,219.05
We, the undersigned, duly appointed auditors of the corporation, do
hereby certify that we have examined the books and accounts of the
North Carolina Experiment Station for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1920 ; that Ave have found the same well kept and classified as above, and
that the receipts for the year from the Treasury of the United States are
shown to have been $30,000, and the corresponding disbursements
$30,000, for all of which proper vouchers are on file and have been by us
examined and found correct, thus leaving nothing.
And we further certify that the expenditures have been solely for the
purposes set forth in the acts of Congress, approved March 2, 1887, and
March 16, 1906. W. H. Kagan,
H. L. Stevens,
(Seal) Auditors.
Attest: A. F. Bowen, Custodian.
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF AGRONOMY
To the Director: The work of the Division of Agronomy has pushed
forward mainly during the year along the same lines mentioned in the
last report. During all the disturbing factors the work has gone for-ward
without much interruption except in the case of analyses of the
soils and certain soil investigations carried on by the Soil Chemist of the
division. These disturbances have been due to the loss of the Soil
Chemist and of his having to devote a certain amount of his time from
the soil work to borax studies. Plans have now been developed to obtain
the services of a man for this special soil work.
The work in the main has been conducted along the general lines indi-cated
below:
SOIL SURVEY
The soil survey work of the State which is being conducted by the
division in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Soils has been pushed
as rapidly as is consistent with the best interests of the work. The
survey is fundamental to almost all of our other work, as it lays the
foundation for the conducting of agronomic work in the most intelligent
and logical manner. During the year, surveys of Tyrrell, Durham, Bun-combe,
and Guilford have been completed, and considerable work done in
Onslow. It is expected to finish Onslow during the winter and at the
same time to carry on work in another of the eastern counties.
SOIL FERTILITY STUDIES
Since the greatest problem before the farmers of North Carolina is
the maintaining and building up of their soils in a productive state, a
large amount of effort of the Division of Agronomy has been given over
to the study of the fertilizer needs of our soils for the production of the
best paying crop yields. For it is realized that if our farmers are to get
the most out of their farming operations and are to transmit to their
children productive farms, it is of the highest importance that they not
only secure good yields of the different crops for themselves, but they
shall, too, put into operation proper methods of maintaining and build-ing
up the producing power of their soils.
It is felt that in order for the general farmer to increase the produc-tiveness
of his soil it will not only be necessary for him to use commer-cial
fertilizers and lime judiciously, but also that he shall put into prac-tice
a system or systems of crop rotations in which suitable legumes find
their place at frequent intervals. It should also be kept in mind that not
only will it be necessary for him to grow these nitrogen gathering crops
in rotation with his main money crops, but that he shall, after they have
been grown, so handle them as to add in a practical way to the organic
and nitrogen supply of his soil and at the same time to have the exhaus-tion
of the phosphoric acid and potash reserves of his soil to be as small
16 Forty-Third Annual Eeport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
as practicable. In order to do this, generally speaking, for the average
general farmer, it becomes necessary that a considerable acreage shall be
grown every year primarily for soil improving purposes. It is not pos-sible,
ordinarily, in growing leguminous crops to remove them from the
land after they have been grown and have the growth of them benefit
materially, if at all, the producing power of the soil. One of the greatest
errors in the minds of many of our people has been that they, in many
cases, have assumed that it is possible by the growth of a leguminous
crop on the land to build up its productiveness by simply growing the
crop on it and removing the crop after its growth. This cannot be
expected to materially improve the soil, certainly not in a permanent
way, as more plant-food is removed from the soil than is added. It is
very rarely the case where such crops when removed would even add to
the soil a larger amount of nitrogen than was originally in the soil.
County agents and others who are interested in promoting better systems
of agriculture among our people may devote to good advantage a con-siderable
portion of their time to giving definite and reliable information
to our farmers with reference to the proper principles of building up the
producing power of their soils, and at the same time secure from them
an economical production of crops. Millions of dollars are being spent
annually by the farmers of North Carolina for the use of commercial
plant food. This expenditure cannot be made in the wisest way unless
proper systems of crop rotation on the farms of the State are being
practised and the crops after growth are handled in the wisest way. In
other words, commercial fertilizers cannot be expected, nor do they give,
generally speaking, the best financial returns when used on poor soils
that are handled by poor methods of crop rotation and cultivation.
The soil fertility investigations are being conducted at present by the
Division of Agronomy mainly on the following experimental farms and
fields: Buncombe, Swannanoa; Iredell, Statesville; Central, Kaleigh;
Edgecombe, Rocky Mount; Washington, Wenona; Pender, Willard;
Granville, Oxford.
To study the deficiencies of the different types of soil throughout the
States, tests are being conducted on the distinct types of soil located at
the points indicated below:
For Mountain Section
Toxaway Silty Loam, Andrews; Porter's Loam, Swannanoa; Toxaway
Loam, Swannanoa.
For Piedmont Section
Davidson Clay, Linwood; Cecil Clay Loam, Statesville; Mecklenburg
Clay Loam, Concord; Durham Sandy Loam, Oxford; Granville Sandy
Loam, Eranklinton; Wilkes Sandy Loam, McLeansville.
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh
Agronomy 17
For Coastal Plain Section
Norfolk Fine Sandy Loam, Kocky Mount; Portsmouth Fine Sandy
Loam, Pantego ; Muck, Moyock ; Norfolk Fine Sandy Loam, Willard.
In connection with the Farm-life Schools of the State experiments are
being conducted along the same general lines as the soil type studies,
with one exception that one plot receives stable manure. At present, ex-periments
are being conducted at the following schools
:
In Piedmont Section
Lowe's Grove Farm Life School, Durham ; Parrish Agricultural High
School, Bahama.
In Coastal Plain Section
Aulander Farm-life School, Aulander; Eed Oak Farm-life School,
Kocky Mount; Sand Hill Farm-life School, Carthage; Craven County
Farm-life School, Yanceboro.
MISCELLANEOUS SOIL TESTS
Miscellaneous tests were begun at the following places to study differ-ent
soil fertility problems
:
At Edgecombe Farm.—To study the effect on the quantity and grade
of peanuts of applications of limestone, gypsum, and sulphur. To de-crease
the number of factors no plant food was added to the different
plats. This experiment has not yet progressed far enough to justify a
statement of results and conclusions.
At Lowe's Grove, Central Farm, and Manchester.—Experiments were
started this year to compare the relative efficiency of nitrate of soda and
sulphate of ammonia as carriers of nitrogen used on cotton as top-dressers
at different dates. These experiments will have to be continued
for a time before deduction may be safely made from the results.
At Wadesboro, Iredell Farm, Pender Farm, and Buncombe Farm.—
Experiments have been started to compare the relative value of raw rock
phosphate, soft rock phosphate, basic slag and acid phosphate as carriers
of phosphoric acid, using large amounts of nitrogen and potash to
reduce the number of limiting factors. So far acid phosphate has gen-erally
given greater and better paying yields than have the other carriers
of phosphoric acid.
Work has been started on peat soil at Wenona to determine the effect
on the growth of crops by turning the soil at different depths.
Tests with cotton and corn to study the efficiency of Phospho-Germ
against a complete fertilizer have been conducted during the year at
Wadesboro, and at the Central and Iredell farms. Available results so
far do not indicate that Phospho-Germ has measured up in value to the
commercial fertilizers used comparatively.
2—
IS Forty-Third Annual Report 1ST. C. Agri. Exp. Station
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS AND RESULTS AT THE DIFFERENT
FARMS
At Washington Farm—In an experiment on Field A it was planned
to study the effect of different combinations of fertilizers on peat soil,
with and without lime, when used singly, in combinations of two, and all
three elements of plant food. One plot also received basic slag. Although
there have been some crop failures in this experiment, sufficient data has
been secured, it is felt, to justify a statement that lime is decidedly the
first most important constituent needed by this soil, after drainage, for
good crop results. The addition of phosphoric acid and potash has
shown no benefit when used alone or in combinations and sometimes a
depressing effect. Of the crops tried, corn has been the only successful
crop grown thus far.
Increasing the amount of lime, within the limits used, has given in-creases
of crop yields. To be enabled to answer the questions of how
much and what forms of lime to use on this kind of soil to best advantage
an experiment was begun in the spring cf 1917. Three forms of lime are
being tested—hydrated lime, ground limestone, and marl. The quantities
used are the equivalent of one ton, two tons, three tons, and four tons of
calcium carbonate per acre applied once every three years. Results of
three years' field experiments have been secured and indicate that more
than one ton of lime is needed per acre, also that marl is not quite as
efficient a carrier of calcium as are other forms of lime.
At Pender Farm.—In 1915 an experiment was begun on Fields A and
E at this farm to determine the best combinations of fertilizers to use on
this type of soil, using corn, oats, and vetch, and cotton in a three-year
rotation with a cover crop always on the land. Several failures have
been marked up against this field on account of the corn-bill bug. So
far, nitrogen has shown to be the constituent most needed for better
crop yields. "When two and three times normal amounts of nitrogen are
used, increases in crop yields are secured. Phosphoric acid with nitrogen
has given more increases than potash with nitrogen. Lime has shown up
well, especially with soybeans, and is paying for itself. The field at this
farm is in poor physical condition, but it seems from now on more strik-ing
results should be secured. The use of basic slag has not shown up
quite as well as acid phosphate.
In 1918 another experiment was begun to test the relative efficiency of
different carriers of phosphate. The field is divided into eight plots,
with limed and unlimed ends. The first crop—corn—was a partial
failure, but acid phosphate gave greater yields.
At Edgecombe Farm.—The main fertilizer tests at this farm are on
Fields A, B, and C, using a three-year rotation consisting of corn, cotton,
and peanuts, with a cover crop every year. In these tests on this type of
soil, nitrogen and potash have shown to be the first important constitu-ents
of plant food to be supplied for best crops. On Field A the appli-cation
of nitrogen and potash has paid better on an average than has
Agronomy 19
the use of a complete fertilizer. With larger amounts of nitrogen and
potash, phosphoric acid begins to show up. The results show as a whole
that farmers of the Coastal Plain section are not using enough fertilizer
for cotton and that the formulas used are not the best for the most
economical production. More nitrogen and potash should be used with
the phosphoric acid remaining about the same or slightly reduced.
In the rotation tests on this farm the results show that corn every year
and cotton every year is better than a simple rotation of corn and cotton
without cover crops, when fertilizer is used. When legumes are intro-duced
in the rotation better yields of all crops are secured. The manure
plot has shown us that organic matter is a big factor on this type of soil.
The use of rock phosphate has not given as good results in the main
fertilizer tests as had acid phosphate.
In the study of different carriers of nitrogen, nitrate of soda still leads,
with sulphate of ammonia coming second in value as a carrier of nitro-gen.
All the carriers of organic nitrogen tried did not show the efficiency
in promoting yields that the inorganic forms did.
In the test in sowing Lespedeza in the spring the results show that
even with the addition of limestone and phosphate our climatic condi-tions
are such that it cannot be safely depended upon as a hay crop. A
test to determine the effect of winter-killing on crimson clover, using seed
from foreign and native sources, did not show any decided difference last
year. It was repeated this year with the same general results.
At Iredell Farm.—With the type of soils at this farm, the evidence
is still conclusive that phosphoric acid and nitrogen are the controlling
factors for better crop yields. Lime is giving good results and the yields
of crops indicate where more organic materials are incorporated into the
soil, which can be secured by the use of legumes and lime, the capacity
of the soil to make larger crop yields is increased by the increased effi-ciency
of the fertilizer added.
In rotation tests the results show that corn every year and wheat
every year with fertilizers is just as good as a two-year rotation of corn
and wheat with fertilizers and that when legumes are added in the rota-tion,
such as red clover, cowpeas, or soybeans, better crops are secured.
In the study of different forms of nitrogen carriers, nitrate of soda
and sulphate of ammonia have given greater efficiency than any other
common carriers of this constituent since the beginning of the experi-ment.
INTo noticeable residual effect is manifested on plots receiving
organic carriers of nitrogen over the inorganic carriers.
In the regular fertilizer experiments, finely ground rock phosphate
has not generally shown as efficient as a provider of phosphoric acid as
acid phosphate. In the test where rock phosphate is used in amounts
varying from 500 pounds to 4,000 pounds complete fertilizer using acid
phosphate as the source of phosphoric acid has shown up better in all
cases with corn and wheat, except where 4,000 pounds of rock phosphate
was used to the acre. This latter plot seemed naturally a little more
20 Forty-Third Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp. Station
fertile from the beginning and has kept up. Beginning in the fall of
1919, Plot No. 1, which received a complete fertilizer, the application was
changed to acid phosphate alone. By this change a fairer comparison
will be obtained against the different amounts of rock phosphate.
No conclusions can yet be drawn in regard to the efficiency of nitrolene
as a carrier of nitrogen.
In the spring of 1919 a test was started to show the efficiency of soft
phosphate rock as against acid phosphate. Up to this time acid phos-phate
has given greater yields with both cotton and corn.
At Buncombe Farm.—In the regular fertilizer experiment, phosphoric
acid, nitrogen, and lime seem to be the controlling factors for better crop
yields with both bottom and upland soils.
In the rock phosphate test, in which comparison is made of the value
of ground phosphate rock and acid phosphate, alone, with stable manure,
and with legumes, the acid phosphate has given greater crop yields and
net returns under all conditions and with all crops.
Lime is beginning to show up on soils of this farm, and with red clover
in the rotation should be considered one of the first materials required to
be applied for best paying results.
At Central Test Farm.—The experiments here have brought out the
importance of having more vegetable matter incorporated in the soil so
that the crops will be better enabled to take advantage of the applica-tions
of plant food applied. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid give increased
yields, with potash of little importance for increased production until
nitrogen has been applied in goodly amounts. It has been shown that a
rotation of corn and cotton without lime and using rye and crimson
clover as a winter cover crop will not frequently do for this type of soil
in this part of the State where dry spells are apt to occur to decrease or
stop the crop growth. Basic slag, nitrogen and potash under cotton every
year with crimson clover has seemed to have kept up the yields better
than any other rotation.
A test was started this year to determine the efficiency of nitrate of
soda and sulphate of ammonia on cotton each applied at four different
dates. On account of variable season this test will have to be run several
years in order to secure most dependable results.
An experiment was started this year to determine the value of Phos-pho-
Germ as a fertilizer. Trona potash under corn is being tested, using
different amounts of potash and supplying a liberal amount of both nitro-gen
and phosphoric acid.
An experiment has been started to see if lime and acid phosphate will
be able to produce profitable crops when used with legumes or crop
residues turned under every year. Also two forms of lime are used and
in different amounts. On Fields A and B at this farm, manure at the
rate of seven tons per acre was broadcast this spring and soybeans ferti-lized
and sown to be turned under, and then rye was sown. This was
done to bring back these plots to a higher state of fertility, as recent
Agronomy 21
yields indicated that on account of the poor physical condition the crops
were not getting the benefit of the fertilizers applied.
A spring sowing of Lespedeza was started in 1917 in cooperation with
the U. S. Department of Agriculture at this and at the Edgecombe
farm, using lime and acid phosphate, to see if a successful hay crop
could be made. So far negative results only have been recorded. The
main reason for the poor results has been due to the growth of grass and
weeds before the clover gets started. The seasons in this section seem to
be too hot and dry for a satisfactory growth of this crop for hay on soils
similar to those of this farm.
SOME GENERAL CONCLUSIONS FROM FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS
At Buncombe Farm.—(1) With the main fertilizer experiments the
value of phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and lime is still maintained and are
the controlling constituents for better crop yields on both the upland
and bottom soils of the Mountain section. (2) The rock phosphate test
still shows phosphoric acid carried by acid phosphate as better for larger
crops than is finely ground raw rock phosphate. (3) In the rotation
experiment, where lime is used with red clover, fine returns have been
secured. The legume plots show up much better than where no cover
crop was used. (4) The soft phosphate experiment has given indica-tions
that acid phosphate is better for larger crops than other carriers
of phosphoric acid tried.
At Washington Farm.—(1) The use of all fertilizer mixtures tried
has failed to pay. (2) Applications of lime usually assure good crop
yields, and the use of two tons is better than one ton. (3) Three tons of
calcium carbonate per acre does not increase the yield but very little
more than two tons. (4) Marl has been found to be a poorer carrier of
lime than is limestone or burnt lime. (5) Three tons of marl are better
than two tons. (6) Burnt lime is no better than the use of raw ground
limestone.
At Pender Farm.—(1) Nitrogen stands out as first in importance to
be provided on this soil. Phosphoric acid comes next when used with
nitrogen. The use of potash has not shown up to very good advantage.
(2) Lime is quite beneficial on soybeans and probably other legumes.
At Edgecombe Farm.—(1) More fertilizer of the right kind is needed
for cotton than is commonly used. The ordinary formulas as used by
farmers should have more nitrogen and potash. The use of lime shows
up to advantage. (2) A corn and cotton rotation simply is no better than
corn and cotton each year on the same land. When legumes are intro-duced
they show up to good advantage. (3) Nitrate of soda and sul-phate
of ammonia are two of the best carriers of nitrogen for corn and
cotton. They will have to be used with proper safeguards.
At Iredell Farm.—(1) Phosphoric acid and nitrogen are still the most
important factors for better crops. (2) In rotation studies, corn and
22 Forty-Third Annual Eeport N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
wheat every year is as good as corn and wheat in rotation. Legumes
show up in this rotation to good effect. (3) Very large applications
(4,000 pounds per acre in each rotation as clover is being turned in) of
finely ground rock phosphate have shown up a little better than a com-plete
fertilizer with red clover in the rotation. (4) Nitrate of soda and
sulphate of ammonia, properly used, are two of the most efficient carriers
of nitrogen tried for the growth of corn and cotton.
At Central Farm.—(1) Organic matter from some source, and if
grown lime to assist, stand out as very essential for larger and better
paying crop yields. (2) Spring is not the time to sow Lespedeza for hay
in this section. (3) The use of basic slag and crimson clover are suitable
to keep up the yields of cotton. (4) Phospho-Germ has given poor
results in the growth of rye.
TOBACCO EXPERIMENTS AT REIDSVILLE
The general fertilizer experiments have been continued. The most im-portant
observation this year was the striking evidence of the effect of
seasonal conditions on the action of fertilizers—the resulting growth
being much larger than in former years, the quality remaining very good
on even the heavier fertilized plots.
The special potash experiments gave results the most striking ever
obtained at this farm. "Wild-fire" affected this set of plots severely and
the superiority of muriate of potash over the sulphate of potash was
really astonishing in affording protection from this disease. The muriate
also gave a considerable immunity from "sand-drown" and produced a
larger and better growth than the sulphate.
The special nutrition experiments were continued but with the addi-tion-
of a new set of fields, Nos. 1 and 2, one on old land and the other on
similar natured land but freshly cleared from the original forest. Sam-ples
of soil were taken from both fields for the purpose of obtaining the
humus content. This experiment will be repeated at intervals in future
years in order to learn the changes that take place according to treat-ment
with crops and fertilizers.
This year the most striking observation was the relative superiority
of corn on the old land and contrasting superiority of tobacco in both
yield and quality on fresh land.
The need for phosphoric acid was even more strongly manifested on
the fresh land, the growth where this constituent was lacking being
almost nothing on the fresh land especially with the corn plots.
TOBACCO EXPERIMENTS AT GRANVILLE FARM
General Fertilizer Tests.—There are thirty-six regular fertilizer plots
in this experiment. The object is to determine the best sources of nitro-gen,
phosphoric acid, and potash, and also the best combinations of these
various sources. In 1920 ground limestone, used at the rate of two tons
Agronomy 23
per acre^, was applied on one-half of each of these plots, thereby making
a total of seventy-two plots. The indications are that the use of lime
has added somewhat to the yields.
Special Potash Plots.—There were twenty plots used in this experi-ment
for determining both the best source and quantity of potash per
acre. The potash was applied in different amounts, ranging from noth-ing
to 80 pounds per acre, with and without lime. The indications are
that the use of around 40 pounds of potash per acre seems to be about
right. While the muriate gave a larger yield than sulphate of potash we
are not sure as yet that we recommend muriate in preference to sulphate
on account of quality of the tobacco produced.
Variety Tests.—Twenty-one so-called varieties were tested this year,
among them being several hybrids which have shown some promise.
There were also tested out the new variety known as "Big Gem," "Make
All," "Harrison's Pride," and perhaps known in different localities
under two or three other names. It was found that this variety was
more resistant to "leaf spot" disease than a number of the other varie-ties.
It was found to make a splendid growth, but did not have the body
and general character possessed by the Orinocos, Adcock, Gooch, or
Warne. It does, however, show promise.
Rotations for Tobacco.—Several rotations have been followed. Con-ditions
will always be a big factor in determining the proper rotation to
adopt, but wherever it is possible a grass sod well prepared is an ideal
crop to precede tobacco.
Tobacco After Cowpeas.—We have been planting tobacco after cow-peas
in rotation with oats for nine years and have used no nitrogenous
fertilizers under the tobacco. When topped low and the tobacco is cut it
has been found difficult to get color and quality, but since we have been
priming and planting twenty-four inches in the drill, splendid color with
an average yield of about 1,100 pounds has been secured. While this is
not always a safe rotation, it, when used intelligently, may give good
results, especially if wire-worms are not present.
Closer Planting Combined with More Intensive Fertilizing.—Twelve
plots, ranging from 3,920, 4,704, 5,880, and 7,840 plants per acre were
used. This covers spacing, with 4-foot rows, of 18 inches, 24 inches, 30
inches, and 36 inches apart in the row. Each distance of planting
was fertilized with 450 pounds, 750 pounds, 1,000 pounds respectively
of 5-8-5 fertilizer per acre. The results thus far secured are fairly con-clusive
in showing that an increased yield with good quality may be
obtained by planting closer, say an average of about twenty-four inches
in the row with four-foot rows, provided liberal applications of fertilizer
are used.
Permanent Tobacco Seed-Bed.—It has been found possible to main-tain
a permanent seed-bed located at some convenient place near the
house, provided steam is used each year to sterilize it. Where a farmer
24 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
has a small portable boiler it is easy to make a pan and use this boiler
for such purposes.
Nutrition Experiments.—In this experiment there are ninety plots,
thirty of which are grown in tobacco, thirty in cotton, and thirty in corn,
with different fertilizer treatments. After the cotton, corn and tobacco
are harvested these plots are seeded in wheat, oats, and rye, which gives
a crop of wheat after tobacco, after cotton, and after corn, and the same
with rye and oats. By this means it is. possible to get the crop-effects
of the three main crops for this section.
Relative Value of Legumes.—There are one hundred and thirty-three
plots in this series of experiments. The object is to determine the relative
value of the most common legumes in tobacco growing. This is done by
planting a certain number of these plots each year in these legumes, after
which they are planted to tobacco, cotton and corn with similar fertilizer
treatment for each crop. When these cultivated crops are harvested,
wheat, oats, and rye are sown. We then get the crop-effects and the
legume-effects on each of the succeeding crops. This is an extremely in-teresting
and valuable experiment, but it will require several years to
secure data that will be dependable.
RESULTS WITH NITRATE OF SODA ON COTTON WITH PIEDMONT
SOILS
In carefully conducted field experiments by the division, nitrate of
soda has proven to be one of the best paying of fertilizers, in the produc-tion
of cotton on "red lands" in the Piedmont section of the State. It
is usually one of the cheapest forms of nitrogen on the market, it is
readily available, and when properly used on clay and clay loam soils its
nitrogen will not leach out much more rapidly than that in other com-mercial
forms of nitrogen. In a seven-years test at the Iredell farm, on
red clay soil, a fertilizer having its nitrogen in the form of dried blood
was applied to cotton at planting. On an adjoining plat a fertilizer of
the same composition was used, except that the nitrogen came from
nitrate of soda. Each of these plats received fifty pounds of nitrate of
soda per acre as a side dressing. The plat having dried blood at plant-ing,
followed by a side dressing of nitrate, made an average yield during
seven years of 767 pounds of seed cotton per acre. The plat that got
nitrate of soda both at planting and later made an average of 919 pounds
of seed cotton per acre. The difference in favor of nitrate of soda being
152 pounds of seed cotton, which at 8 cents per pound (above the present
price) is worth $12.16. When we take into consideration the fact that
the fertilizer containing nitrate of soda costs less than that containing
dried blood, the difference is still greater. The difference in yield
between the two treatments varied from year to year. One year the
nitrate of soda treatment yielded 330 pounds above the other. The
method of applying dried blood at planting and nitrate of soda later,
gave a higher yield than by using nitrate of soda both times only one
Agronomy 25
year out of the seven, and then the difference was only twenty pounds.
In many parts of the Piedmont section the growing season is short and
in order to mature cotton properly it is necessary to grow an early
variety, to plant early, and to keep the crop growing rapidly from
planting until maturity. Nitrate of soda is available to the young plants
as soon as it dissolves in the soil water, hence it helps them to get a quick
start and so to beat the season. The stiff clay subsoils of the Piedmont
hold the nitrate, so that, while available, it does not leach out during the
growing season as it might do with a coarse sandy subsoil.
PROFITABLENESS OF USE OF FERTILIZERS ON WHEAT ON
MOUNTAIN SOILS
Por a number of years fertilizer tests have been conducted by the
Division of Agronomy at the Buncombe farm. As a result of these tests
it has been found that the proper use of well balanced fertilizer mixtures
will pay well for the fertilizer applied. In fact, without the use of a
good mixture the growth of wheat is a doubtful crop, under normal con-ditions,
from the standpoint of net returns per acre above the cost of
production. What the amount per acre and proportions of plant food
constituents should be for this crop is indicated by the resume given
below of our results on fairly typical bottom-land and up-land soils of
the mountain section of the State.
On Toxaway Loam (Bottom) Soil.—(1) With only two constituents
used, phosphoric acid combined with potash afforded the largest net
returns per acre; while nitrogen combined with potash failed to return
enough to pay for the fertilizer application. The use of nitrogen and
phosphoric acid averaged $4.56 more profit per acre than did the use
of nitrogen and potash, but it was not so great in the former case by
$8.26 as that secured on an average by the use of phosphoric acid and
potash combined. With the use of a combination of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash, a net return per acre above the cost of fertilizer of
$12.35 was secured. This is forty-seven cents less than what was obtained
where a mixture of phosphoric acid and potash was used. Taking all
results of the experiments from the different combinations the evidence
is quite conclusive that phosphoric acid is the dominant or controlling
constituent of plant food for increasing the yield and profit in growing
wheat on this type of soil.
(2) When lime is used alone it has been found to give a small increase
in yield and a profit after paying for itself. In combination with a
complete fertilizer it has shown an annual increase in profit of $18.23
per acre above the net returns secured by the use of a complete fertilizer
alone.
Under the conditions of the experiment the results show that for wheat
grown on this type of soil lime may be used at a small profit alone and
with a much greater profit when applied in conjunction with a complete
fertilizer.
26 Forty-Third Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp. Station
(3) The amount of nitrogen used in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds
per acre) applied in the experiments was three per cent, or 12 pounds to
the acre. This amount was varied so as to give 6, 12, and 24 pounds of
nitrogen per acre. The yields of wheat and straw were very slightly
increased as the applications of nitrogen were made larger, but in no case
did the gains amount to enough to pay for the increased cost of the
fertilizer above the normal amount of nitrogen. In fact with the use of
even 6 pounds of nitrogen not enough gain in yields was made to give as
great a net profit as when phosphoric acid and potash were used without
nitrogen. Until other crop-producing factors are controlled the use of
nitrogen for wheat on this type of soil does not pay.
(4) The amount of phosphoric acid in the normal fertilizer (400
pounds per acre) was 7 per cent, which is equivalent to 28 pounds per
acre. This quantity was varied so as to apply 14, 28, and 56 pounds of
phosphoric acid per acre with normal amounts of nitrogen and potash.
The yields of grain and straw were increased considerably as the
amount of phosphoric acid was increased. The net returns secured per
acre were $4.94 when 14 pounds of phosphoric acid were used ; $12.45 by
the use of 28 pounds; and with the use of 56 pounds a net return was.
made of $25.93 above cost of fertilizer applied. From the increase in
yield and net returns made, the use of 56 pounds of phosphoric acid was
found the most profitable amount to use. It is indicated by the results
from the use of 14 pounds to 56 pounds of phosphoric acid that even
heavier applications of phosphoric acid would be more profitable.
(5) The amount of potash in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds per
acre) was 1% per cent equivalent to 6 pounds per acre. This amount
was varied so as to apply 3, 6, and 12 pounds of potash per acre with
normal amounts of nitrogen and phosphoric acid. The results indicated
that 3 pounds of potash are enough to use for wheat on this type of soil.
With the use of larger applications of phosphoric acid more potash could
probably be used with profit.
(6) Varying amounts of the normal fertilizer applications from 200,
400, 600, and 800 pounds per acre gave progressively increased yields
and profits as the quantity of fertilizer was made larger, the results
being quite uniform in this regard. The results of the various applica-tions
after deducting the cost of the fertilizer showed the following net
profits
:
200 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of $ 4.60
400 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of 12.35.
600 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of 34.46.
800 pounds of fertilizer per acre gave a profit of 39.67.
Putting this in' a slightly different way, the first 200 pounds of ferti-lizer
application of 400 pounds yielded $3.09 per 100 pounds; 600 pounds
yielded $5.73 profit per 100 pounds, and 800 pounds yielded $4.96 profit
per 100 pounds of fertilizer applied.
Agronomy 27
(7) From the chemical analyses of the various bottom land studied in
the Western part of the State the indications are that these results will
apply generally to these soils.
(8) In the production of wheat on bottom-land soils, of the character
of this, taking all results here reported as a whole, it is recommended
that on well prepared land that at least 600 pounds of fertilizer per acre
be used, analyzing about 10 per cent available phosphoric acid and some-thing
like 1 to 2 per cent nitrogen. It should be the plan of every farmer
to reduce the necessity for the use of nitrogen in the fertilizers used.
This can be done by the growth and plowing in of leguminous crops and
crop residues grown in rotation with wheat.
Porter s Loam (Upland) Soil.—(1) Nitrogen when used in normal
amounts (12 pounds per acre) alone did not produce enough increase to
pay for the material.
(2) Using a normal amount (28 pounds) of phosphoric acid alone
gave a net profit of $10.68.
(3) With a normal amount of potash (6 pounds) a net profit of $5.78
was secured.
(4) With the use of a mixture carrying normal amounts of nitrogen
and phosphoric acid, and no potash, after paying for the fertilizer a net
profit was obtained of $7.82.
(5) With normal amounts of nitrogen and potash and no phosphoric
acid used in the mixture, the increase in yield was barely sufficient to
pay for the fertilizer.
(6) By the use of phosphoric acid and potash, leaving out nitrogen, a
net gain was made of $6.77.
(7) Using all three plant-food constituents combined in a com-plete
fertilizer an increase in yield was secured sufficient to give a net
profit of $9.68. Although the average yield from this plat was larger
than from that to which phosphoric acid alone was applied, the increased
yield is not enough to compensate for the increase in the cost of fertilizer.
(8) The results show that the use of lime alone has given increased
yields and profits, and when used in combination with a complete ferti-lizer
a small net profit has been secured over that when a complete ferti-lizer
alone has been used.
(9) The experiments as a whole show, first, that phosphoric acid is
the controlling plant food constituent for increasing yields and profits
in growing wheat on this type of soil; second, that unless more phos-phoric
acid is applied the use of nitrogen and potash will be made at a
loss ; and third, that lime can be used with profit.
(10) The amount of nitrogen in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds
per acre) applied in the wheat experiments was 3 per cent of 12 pounds
to the acre. This amount was varied so as to give 6, 12, 24, and 36
pounds of nitrogen to the acre. With the exception of the plat which
received the heaviest application (36 pounds) of nitrogen, giving a net
28 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
profit of 18 cents more than did the plat receiving the lightest applica-tion
(6 pounds), the profits decreased as the applications of nitrogen
were increased. The results indicate that until other conditions are
satisfied it is not profitable to use larger amounts of nitrogen than 6
pounds per acre in the production of wheat on this type of soil.
(11) The amount of phosphoric acid in the normal fertilizer (400
pounds per acre) was 7 per cent of 28 pounds per acre. This quantity
was varied so as to apply 14, 28, 56, and 84 pounds respectively of phos-phoric
acid per acre. The largest and most profitable yields were secured
from the use of 56 and 84 pounds per acre with normal amounts of nitro-gen
and potash. As the use of 84 pounds just barely paid for itself it is
probable that until other conditions are satisfied 56 pounds of phosphoric
acid is enough for profitable wheat growing on this type of soil.
(12) The amount of potash in the normal fertilizer (400 pounds per
acre) used, was 1% per cent or 6 pounds per acre. Varying this amount
so as to apply 3, 6, 12, and 18 pounds per acre, respectively, the results
show that for 'the use of 3, 6, and 18 pounds the net profits are practically
the same. For some reason the results secured with the use of 12 pounds
are very high. Until other conditions are satisfied it is probable that 3
pounds of potash are enough to use for wheat on this type of soil.
(13) Varying the amounts of normal fertilizer application from 200
pounds to 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 pounds per acre gave increased yields
and profits for all the applications except where 800 pounds were used.
The most profitable application was at the rate of 1,000 pounds per acre
of the normal mixture. After deducting the cost of fertilizer the differ-ent
quantities per acre showed the following profits
:
200 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of $ 3.55.
400 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 7.04.
600 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 11.11.
800 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 10.56.
1,000 pounds per acre of fertilizer gave a profit of 13.50.
Putting this in a slightly different way the first 200 pounds of ferti-lizer
yielded a net profit (after paying for cost of fertilizer) of $1.78 for
each 100 pounds of fertilizer; the application of 400 pounds yielded
$1.76 per 100 pounds; 600 pounds yielded $1.85 per 100 pounds; 800
pounds yielded $1.32 per 100 pounds, and 1,000 pounds yielded a profit
of $1.35 per 100 pounds of fertilizer.
(14) From the chemical analyses of the various upland soils in the
western part of the State, the indications are that the results herein
given will apply very well to most of them.
(15) In the growth of wheat on average unmanured upland soils of
the mountains, properly treated, taking all results as a whole, it is
recommended that something like 600 pounds per acre of a fertilizer
analyzing about 10 to 12 per cent phosphoric acid, and 2 to 3 per cent of
nitrogen be applied. When soils of this character are built up, the nitro-
Agronomy 29
gen in the mixture may be reduced or be entirely eliminated. This con-dition
of the soil should be striven for by the growth and plowing into
the soil of leguminous crops and crop residues.
CROP ROTATION
In most of our soil fertility studies, a definite system of crop rotation
is being and has been used for many years. Good rotations with legumes
have been studied against single and double rotations without legumes.
The results have developed many facts of interest* and importance to
farmers of the State. This work is being continued in most of the
experimental work with our main crops on the different soil types of
different parts of the State. It is feared that many have not realized
even yet the value of a good crop rotation in which suitable legumes are
included wherever practical to do so. In this connection it might be
mentioned that at the Central farm in eight years where a five-year
rotation constituted as follows has been followed
:
First year—Soybeans sown broadcast and turned in.
Second year—Cotton, followed by rye.
Third year—Rye plowed in, followed by corn, ears gathered and the
stalks turned in.
Fourth year—Soybeans for hay.
Fifth year—Wheat, followed by soybeans.
And where two soybean crops have been grown and turned under the
yields of the main money crops have been at least quadrupled. For the
average general farmer the only way in which he can increase the organic
or humus supply of his soil in the most practical way will be by the
plowing in of crops and crop residues.
INVESTIGATIONS IN PLANT BREEDING
Cotton Study Work at Central Farm.—The cotton study work under
Adams Project No. 14 has been continued and has consisted of further
comparisons of several strains isolated from one variety and their first
generation hybrids. The strains of cotton isolated in 1913, and self-fertilized
since that time, have shown no loss of vigor due to inbreeding.
The strains are very uniform and distinct in character. During the past
six years strain ~No. 29 has averaged 2,061.78 pounds of seed cotton per
acre, while ~No. 22, an inferior strain, has averaged only 985.1 pounds
per acre.
Seven of the more distinct pure lines were inter-crossed last season.
When the first generation plants were grown this season they proved to be
more vigorous and earlier than either of their parents. In each case the
first generation hybrids were more productive than either of their
parents.
The place-effect studies under Adams Project 15 have continued to
consist of a further comparison of cotton plants from Mississippi-and-
30 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
JNTorth Carolina-grown seed of the same pure strain. The work is con-ducted
in cooperation with the Mississippi Experiment Station. The
seed from the two sources have been planted in alternate rows and notes
have been taken of the number of blooms at the beginning of the bloom-ing
period; the height of plants at blooming time; number of bolls set
and open bolls at intervals ; and the height of plants at maturity. Dur-ing
three previous seasons the Mississippi-grown seed have given earlier,
taller, and more productive plants when grown here than the North
Carolina-grown seed. Similar results were gotten from the studies in the
two localities—at the Mississippi Agricultural College and at West
Raleigh, N. C. This season, the fourth year of the experiment, the seed
have been grown again in the two localities, the results having reversed
themselves in the North Carolina series. This year in this series, the
North Carolina-grown seed have given earlier, slightly taller, and more
productive plants.
SEED IMPROVEMENT ON THE BRANCH STATION FARMS
In order to supply growers of the State with productive farm seeds
of good quality, all of the branch stations are being stocked with good
strains of the different field crops. Among the crops being improved at
the present time are cotton, corn, wheat, oats, soybeans, and vetch.
The Mountain Branch Station has been stocked with a good strain of
Biggs' corn, and of strain No. 38 of the Haberlandt soybeans. The Biggs'
corn has furnished a source of good seed corn to farmers for that section
during the past three years. Strain No. 38 of the Haberlandt soybeans
were a little too late for the bottom-lands on this farm this season. The
growth of the strain will be continued on higher and lighter soils during
next season.
The Piedmont Branch Station has been stocked with King No. 29
cotton seed, Pedigreed Weekly's Improved corn, Leap's Prolific No. 32
wheat, pedigreed Virginia No. 11 soybeans, and pedigreed Abruzzi rye.
Seed of these crops have been increased sufficiently to plant the entire
crop of the farm in pure-bred seed. The surplus seed are being sold to
growers of that section of the State at reasonable prices.
The Central Branch Station is now stocked with pure seed of King No.
29 and Mexican Big Boll cotton, Cooke's Prolific corn, Leap's Prolific
No. 12 wheat, Mammoth Yellow soybeans No. 101, Haberlandt soybeans
No. 38, and Virginia soybeans No. 11. The Mexican Big Boll No. 6
cotton selected on the Central Station farm has ranked first in earliness
and quality of staple in all of these tests made during the past season.
In three of five tests it has taken first place in yield of seed cotton per acre.
When all of the results are in it may make an even better showing.
During the past season sufficient pure seed have'been produced and saved
to plant the entire crop at the Central Station farm during the next
season. This strain of Mexican Big Boll will be used to replace the
strain of King No. 29 previously grown on this farm. The pedigreed
Agronomy 31
Leap's Prolific wheat No. 12 was increased sufficiently this season to sell
262 bushels to growers of the State. The seed was sold to thirty-eight
growers in twenty-two counties. These growers should furnish enough
good seed wheat next year for their different communities. Selection
No. 101 from the Mammoth Yellow soybean has averaged 5.2 bushels
per acre more than the general crop of Mammoth from which it came.
Selected strain No. 11 from Virginia has averaged two bushels per acre
more than the original seed, and strain No. 38 of Haberlandt soybean
averaged 6.2 bushels per acre more than the general crop seed during the
past four years. Seed of these high yielding strains are being established
as rapidly as possible in sections of the State where they are best adapted.
The selection work with Mammoth Yellow soybeans to increase the
oil content during the year has been continued. The selected strains
which have furnished the largest oil content have unfortunately remained
low in yield. Strain No. 101 has continued to give the largest yield of
seed and of oil per acre, though its oil content has averaged 1.1 per cent
lower than that of the unselected Mammoth Yellow beans planted as a
check.
At the Coastal Plain Branch Station the cotton and corn improve-ment
work previously mentioned has been continued. Through careful
selection, Mexican Big Boll cotton has been reduced to a uniform strain
and is gradually becoming a favorite variety in the community. If the
farm were supplied with a private gin, better seed could be produced
which could be sold from the farm in the future. This strain of Mexican
is earlier and more uniform than the original strain. In several cases it
has yielded more than Cleveland and furnished a staple of much better
quality.
The high yielding strain of Mammoth Yellow soybeans, No. 101, has
been planted at the Coastal Plain Station to supply the surrounding com-munity
with a better yielding strain of this crop than is now being grown
in that section.
At the Tobacco and Black-land Stations, selections have been made to
improve the quality and yield of corn grown on them.
PUBLICATIONS
The following bulletins embodying the results of field experiments have
been prepared and issued during the year
:
1. Relative Value of Acid Phosphate and Pock Phosphate on North
Carolina Soils. Issued June, 1920.
2. Fertilizer Experiments with Wheat on Mountain Soils. Issued
July, 1920.
In closing I wish to commend individually all of those associated with
me in the work with crops and soils for the faithful way in which they
have aided in carrying forward the work of the division.
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. Williams,
Chief, Division of Agronomy.
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY
To the Director:—In the last annual report it was stated that work on
the effect of gases on the gossypol content of cotton seed kernels was
under way, the object being the practical elimination of gossypol and
D-gossypol as such from seeds or meal.
These experiments have been continued with air, oxygen, and carbon
dioxide. The temperature, the amount of water present, and the time of
action have been varied within fairly wide limits. It was found that a
part of the gossypol and D-gossypol in kernels could be changed to other
forms by the more severe treatments but that it was difficult to reduce
the amounts of these two substances to the average gossypol and D-gossy-pol
content of cotton seed meal. It was noted, however, that, with the
more severe treatment the amount of gossypol changed seemed to be in-dependent
of the nature of the gas used.
These experiments were repeated on cotton seed meal. Treatment with
the gases named under the varying conditions referred to did not materi-ally
change the content of gossypol nor D-gossypol in cotton seed meal.
Thinking that oxidation might form a satisfactory method for chang-ing
gossypol, we sought to accomplish this end by the aid of some cheap
chemical which would not leave a deleterious residue in the meal.
The chemicals used were bleaching powder, sodium, carbonate, ferric
chloride, ferrous ammonium citrate and ferrous sulphate. Before treat-ment
the meal contained no gossypol and 0.5 per cent D-gossypol. The
meal was treated with aqueous solutions of these chemicals at varying
temperatures up to the boiling point of water, both with and without'
bubbling air through the suspension. The time of the runs varied up to
five hours. It was found that (1) aerating had very little effect on the
final result; (2) under the most severe conditions all of the substances
used changed at least a part of the D-gossypol; (3) the bleaching powder
was least effective in changing D-gossypol; (4) the iron salts and soda
altered approximately 95 per cent of the D-gossypol present.
From these results and such practical considerations as cost and prob-able
effect on the feeding value of the treated meal, copperas was selected
as the best reagent for further work on the problem.
Our efforts were next directed towards finding the minimum amounts
of copperas and water required to eliminate the greater part of the
D-gossypol as such. The effects of temperature and time of runs were
also studied. We found that 50 per cent water and 1 per cent copperas
at 100 °C for y2 hour changed most of the D-gossypol, but if the experi-ment
was run in an autoclave at 125°C, just as much as D-gossypol was
changed in the controls which contained water but no copperas as in the
samples containing copperas.
These results have led us back to the conclusion indicated by the work
with gases; namely, that the D-gossypol in cotton seed meal is changed
by some agency other than oxidation. It is probably hydrolysis.
Chemistry 33
Our most recent experiments indicate that the greater part of the
D-gossypol may be changed by heating cotton seed meal under pressure
at a sufficiently high temperature, and in the presence of sufficient water.
The optimum conditions have not yet been ascertained. There are indi-cations
that 50 per cent added water at 125 °C for V2 hour or less water
and heating for a longer time or at a higher temperature will yield the
best results.
I wish to express my appreciation of the services of Mr. F. W. Sher-wood
who has been connected with the Division of Chemistry for a little
more than a year. Respectfully submitted,
W. A. "Withers,
Chemist.
REPORT OF THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY DIVISION
To the Director:—Heretofore I have, in my annual report, usually
reviewed in more or less detail the outstanding phases of our livestock
work. This year, however, I am merely giving statements of projects.
If you desire additional information it will be little trouble for me to
place it in your hands as practically all of our work is summarized up to
date.
POULTRY EXPERIMENTS AND PATHOLOGY
B. F. Kaupp, in Charge
Assisted by John E. Ivey, E. G. Wardin
1. "Digestive Coefficiency Studies."
(The preliminary work of determining the time required for feed to
pass through the intestinal tract of fowls at different ages and under
different physical conditions, as for example a hen not laying, one
sitting, one laying. Young growing chicks. Some analytical work has
been done. This work is still in progress at this time.)
2. "Mineral Nutritional Studies."
(We have the mineral content of 20 southern poultry feeds worked
out, having from 1 to 13 analyses of each feed. We have the acid-base
balance or potential alkalinity and potential acidity worked out for
these 20 southern poultry feeds. We have two tests run on growing
chicks from baby chicks to 12 weeks of age to determine mineral
requirements for growth at this age. We have definitely determined
the mineral content of baby chicks, iy2 pound broilers and of hens.
Work is still in progress.)
3. "Breeding Studies in Egg Production."
(a) With Single Comb White Leghorns.
(b) With Single Comb Rhode Island Reds.
(c) With Barred Plymouth Rocks.
(d) Pacts or physical signs which indicate egg production.
(Six generations of breeding high fecundity males on low females.
Work still in progress.)
4. "Practical Breeding Studies."
(a) Animal against vegetable proteins.
(b) Dry Lot vs. Range.
(c) Influence of velvet bean on growth and egg production.
Same for cotton seed meal.
(d) Influence of lights on egg production.
(e) Influence of straw lofts on egg production.
(a) This work is in its second year. Studies were made of compara-tive
rate of growth. Getting the pullets into early laying. Influence on
egg production for first year. Records in office, in annual report, and
used in teaching and in articles. (&) In its sixth year at Iredell Test
Farm and just starting similar work at Pender Test Farm, (c) Velvet
beans and pod influence on fattening birds run at West Raleigh plant,
effect of same on chicks run at Iredell Test Farm. Influence of bean
alone on fattening birds run at Central Plant, West Raleigh. Chick
work at Iredell Test Farm, 1920. (d) Influence of lights on egg pro-
Animal Industry 35
duction run at West Raleigh plant. Now in progress, (e) Influence of
straw lofts on temperature and egg production running now at West
Raleigh plant.)
5. "Market Experiments."
(a) Fleshing Broilers.
(b) Shipping Shrinkage Experiments With Broilers.
(c) Egg Shipping Experiments.
(Considerable data has been amassed and tabulated and studied. Still
in progress.)
6. "Influence of Climatic Conditions on Egg Production."
(Still in progress.)
7. "Studies of the Pathological Laboratory."
(a) Entero-hepatitis of Turkeys.
(b) Diarrheas of Adults.
(c) Diarrheas of Chicks.
(d) Other Apparent Contagious Diseases.
(e) Parasitic Diseases.
(f ) Tumors, Both Malignant and Benign.
(g) Non Contagious Diseases,
(h) Histological studies.
(i) Physiological Studies.
( j ) Anatomical Studies.
(Progress made with all these. For the first time in the world's his-tory
we have written a complete anatomy of the domestic fowl and
illustrated it. W. B. Saunders undertook the publication of it as the
financing was a heavy problem. Same of Diseases of Poultry from a
Medical Standpoint.)
8. "Experimental Extension Poultry Work."
(We furnished 60 sittings of eggs first year and 20 sittings second
year. Good results are being obtained and valuable plans are being
worked out.)
SWINE EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Eael Hostetlek, in Charge
1. "Curing Meat."
(Brine is most satisfactory for curing. Meat from hogs fed on soy-beans
and peanuts and then finished on corn does not shrink any more
than hogs fed on corn and tankage or shorts.)
2. "Peanuts—the Kernel—for Fattening Hogs."
(Work been under way one year only.)
3. "Permanent Pasture for Pigs."
(Each acre of Bermuda saved $9.03 worth of grain.)
4. "Cost of Kaising Pigs to Weaning Time."
(It cost $4.67 to produce an average pig until weaned at ten weeks
of age.)
5. "Salt for Pigs."
(So far we have not found salt to be poisonous.)
36 Fokty-Third Annual Report N". C. Agri. Exp. Station
6. "Mineral Mixture and Medications for Wormy and Unthrifty Pigs."
(A mineral mixture—home made—and the National Hog Remedy
were both very beneficial. No particular advantage in using patent
preparation.)
7. "Soybeans and Peanuts for Fattening Hogs."
(Where there is normal yield there is little difference in the amount
of pork made per acre, but the hogs eat the peanuts much quicker than
the soybeans.)
8. "Hardening the Bodies of Hogs After Peanuts."
(Work not been under way long enough for definite conclusions, ex-cept
to say that the bodies can be hardened so they are completely
acceptable.
)
9. "Burr Clover Pastures for Pigs."
(Burr Clover pastures save just about one-half the grain.)
10. "Tankage Versus Fish Meal as Protein Supplements for Fattening
Hogs."
(Fish meal is less palatable than tankage but gives slightly better
and cheaper gains.)
DAIRY EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Stanley Combs, in Charge
1. "Herd Development Work."
(The first crop of heifers to mature shows an increased milk produc-tion
of approximately 1,500 pounds per year over that of the dams as
mature cows. Not all of these animals have come into milk to date.
The indications are that this milk production will be increased by the
heifers that are now maturing.)
2. "Peanut Meal vs. Cotton Seed Meal for Maturing Heifer Calves."
(Have not had sufficient time to mature the oldest heifers.)
3. "Feeding For Milk Production."
(Eleven mature cows showed an increase of 31,741.6 pounds of milk
per year when fed a full ration composed of the same feed that they had
received the year previous, at which time they only received a limited
ration.
)
4. "Home-mixed vs. Eeady-mixed Feeds For the Dairy."
(To date one grain has been fed. This produced slightly less milk
than our home-mixed ration and cost $22 more per ton.)
5. "Cost of Milk Production."
(Published in the N. C. Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 266,
March, 1920, "A Study of the Factors Involved in Producing Milk in
North Carolina.")
6. "Cotton Seed Meal Feeding "Work—Effect on Cows and -Heifers in
Reproduction."
(In cooperation with Beef Cattle Office. To date the work has been
of a preliminary nature. On January first the lot of 24 animals was
divided into five lots, each receiving different rations.)
Animal Industry 37
BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP
R. S. Curtis, in Charge
Assisted by Earl Hostetler, F. F. Peden, George Evans
1. "Milk Sickness, or Trembles."
(Have shown that milk sickness or trembles is caused by weed com-monly
known as Rich Weed or White Snake Root.)
2. "Effect of Cotton Seed Meal on Cows and Heifers in Keproduction."
(In cooperation with Dairy Experimental Office. Have determined
partial effect of cotton seed meal on health, reproduction, and vision.)
3. "Effect of Cotton Seed Meal on Keproductive Qualities of Sheep."
(Have shown that sheep can eat approximately one pound of cotton
seed meal per 100 pounds live weight without producing deleterious
effects.)
4. "Methods and Cost of Maintaining Breeding Ewes and Producing
Lambs."
(Have determined cost of producing lambs and practicability of using
pastures for maintaining sheep.)
5: "Wintering Beef Cattle in Western North Carolina."
(Concluded six years work October 1, 1919. Two official bulletins
from Department of Agriculture.)
6. "Winter Fattening of Beef Cattle."
(Have determined relative value of feeding various quantities of
cotton seed meal under given conditions.)
7. "Sheep Production in Western North Carolina."
(Have determined that sheep can be grown profitably under Western
North Carolina conditions. Main obstacles are poisonous weeds. Tem-porarily
discontinued.
ANIMAL NUTRITIONAL WORK
J. 0. Halverson, in Charge
1. "A Study of 'Soft Pork.' "
(Dr. Halverson has devoted much time since coming with us, April 1,
getting acquainted with our conditions and problems. He now has hold
of the "Soft Pork" problem and has outlined definite plans for continued
investigation.)
2. "Mineral Supplements, Chiefly Calcium, for Southern Animals."
(This is a continuation, with modifications, of the work already
under way.)
3. "Nutritive Value of the Peanut."
(This is a study really supplementary to the "Soft Pork" studies.
The peanut is known to be high in protein and oil, but its nutritive value
in other necessary growth constituents is not so well known. Halverson
is conducting this study with young albino rats to determine the ade-quacy
of (a) the salts present in 30 per cent peanut meal containing the
38 Forty-Third Annual Report ~N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
hulls and in the hulled peanut, (b) the vitamines present, (c) the pro-tein
efficiency for maintenance of growth, (d) the value of alfalfa meal
in supplementing the raw peanut kernel with fat soluble A and inor-ganic
material.)
4. "The Toxicity of White Snake Root."
(See note under Beef Cattle Office.)
5. "Onion Flavor in Milk."
(Dr. Halverson and Combs are continuing this project.)
PUBLICATIONS DURING THE YEAR
The Value of Soybean Meal as a Pood for Chicks, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Fattening Birds for Market, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Secondary Agricultural Schools as a Means of Furthering Poultry Work, by
Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Division of Profits Where Landlord and Tenant Raise Poultry, by Kaupp, in
Poultry Item.
Dry Lot vs. Range Methods of Handling Hens, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Data on Amount of Feed Required to Produce a Dozen Eggs by Hens of Dif-ferent
Breeds, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Factors Which Influence Winter Egg Production, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
Prolapse or Eversion of the Oviduct and Cloaca in a Laying Hen, by Kaupp, in
American Journal of Veterinary Medicine.
Bacillary Edema and Suppuration of the Fowl, by Kaupp, in American Journal
of Veterinary Medicine.
Egg and Poultry Markets Before and After the War, by Kaupp, in Progressive
Farmer.
Poultry Score Card, by Kaupp, Extension Circular No. 35.
A Case of Spindle celled Sarcoma of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues, by
Kaupp, in Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association.
Investigation of the Death of Chicks, Coccidian Hepatitis, by Kaupp, in Jour-nal
of American Veterinary Medical Association.
A Study of Some Feed Mixtures with Reference to Their Potential Acidity and
their Potential Alkalinity, by Kaupp, in the Journal of the American
Association of Instructors and Investigators.
A Study of the Factors Involved in Producing Meat in North Carolina, by
Combs, in North Carolina Department Bulletin No. 266.
The Value of a Full Ration for the Dairy Cow, by Combs, in Extension Circu-lar
No. 107.
Better Males Are Needed for the Farm Flock, by Kaupp, in Poultry Item.
A Study of the Factors Involved in Producing Milk in North Carolina, by
Combs, in North Carolina Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 266.
Score Cards for Mules, by Hostetler, Extension Circular No. 109.
The Value of Mineral Mixtures for Hogs, by Gray and Hostetler, North Caro-lina
Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 268.
Score Card for Draft Horses, by Hostetler, Extension Circular No. 100.
I cannot close the report without commending the good work and ex-cellent
spirit of the men and women connected with the Animal Industry-
Division. Yours very truly,
Dan T. Gray,
Chief, Animal Industry Division.
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
To the Director:—The year has witnessed the accumulation of addi-tional
data on old projects, publications of results in several, and the
taking on of several new projects, outlines of which have been duly filed
with you.
INVESTIGATION WORK
Potato Spraying.—The spraying work with late potatoes has been
continued at the Mountain Branch Station at Swannanoa, in which
work Mr. Leiby and Mr. Haber have had the best cooperation from Mr.
Clapp, superintendent of the farm. The results of five years of this
work were reported in Department Bulletin 254, and show a highly
profitable return from spraying by a regular schedule of applications.
Tests for the third year were conducted on early potatoes in the eastern
part of the State, and we are finding the results there to be more profi-table
than we had anticipated.
The whole subject of spraying potatoes is presented in easily under-stood
form in Extension Circular ~No. 103 by Mr. Leiby, issued March,
1920. Only a lack of labor should stand in the way of every commercial
potato grower in the State following a regular spraying program with
home-made poisoned Bordeaux Mixture. Although the results are less
spectacular because the tubers grow underground, yet the actual profits
are fully as striking as in the spraying of apples.
Larger Com Stalk-borer.—After five years investigation of this insect
by Mr. Leiby, the results have been published in Department Bulletin
274 (August, 1920), and I wish to commend this piece of work in the
highest terms. The careful working out of the life-history of the insect
shows that the farmer who needs to combat it can avoid much of the
trouble by planting May 25 or later, so as to escape injury by the first
generation, which practice will in itself lessen the number of the second
generation. Liberal fertilization helps the corn to outgrow later injury,
and rotation of the crop also lessens liability to attack. Finally a close
study of the winter mortality of the insects shows that plowing out of
the stubble in the fall greatly increases the death-rate among them. All
of which is abundantly supported by observations, recorded data and
field tests. The problem affects mainly the eastern part of the State.
For years I have referred to this project as under investigation, and
it is a pleasure now to point to the published result.
Dusting Late Cabbage to Control Worms.—Tests under this head are
still under way at the Mountain Station, and results continue to show a
profit from dusting the growing plants frequently and lightly with
arsenate of lead and air-slaked lime in proportion of one pound of the
poison to eight pounds of lime.
Pecan Insects.—As indicated in previous report this project is well
advanced, and should be ready for publication in a year or so.
40 Forty-Third Annual Report N". C. x\gri. Exp. Station
Insect Survey.—For nineteen years we carried this permanent and
comprehensive project without special funds and without anyone espe-cially
assigned to it, most of the work during those years heing done by
the writer (Sherman). During that time we built up a card-catalogue
of insects of the State enumerating (December, 1919) 5,254 species. At
the meeting of the Board, December, 1919, provision was made whereby
we engaged Mr. C. S. Brimley, who has since been engaged on this
project. The list has gone forward with increased speed, 493 species
being added thus far during 1920, bringing the total to 5,747 species
(kinds) of insects now known to inhabit the State.
The growth of the State list is but an index—correlated with it is our
constantly growing collection—and from this work we are better enabled
to understand the scope of our field and to solve many puzzling problems
without depending wholly on specialists elsewhere who are crowded with
other work. Many of the additions to the list have been beneficial para-sitic
insects, identified by Mr. Brimley of our own staff. I wish to
re-state the conviction, given from time to time during the past twenty
years, that I can conceive of no project more broad and important in its
whole bearing than this one—it is economic, scientific, biologic—and it
is permanent, we will never exhaust it in the lifetime of any of our
present workers.
Fall Army-worm.—During the summer outbreak of this pest we tested
the use of dust poison at the rate of one pound dry lead arsenate to six
pounds dust lime—this being the same (except a little more concen-trated)
as the mixture we so successfully used against green clover worm
in 1919. It worked well. There is no doubt in our minds that the dry
dust poisons simplify the general problem of controlling sudden out-breaks
of this and related insects on low-growing plants. When we first
surrounded a field with a protective furrow, and then used the dust on
the waste grass around edges inside the furrow, the protection was
virtually complete. The key to success lies in detecting the outbreak,
early, and being so prepared as to apply the measures without delay.
Cutworms.—In the first year's study on this project Mr. Brimley has
reared to maturity a number of species, and is getting data on the rela-tive
abundance of them in the different parts of the State. Thus, while
the list of destructive species at Wilmington may be almost identical
with a similar list from Asheville, yet the one or two species which are
most prevalent in one of these places may not be the ones which are most
prevalent in the other.
Household Insects.—Mr. V. R. Haber is following this project, with
studies of cockroaches, clothes moths, fleas, and others of that general
class. Curiously enough, since we started this project several matters
under this head have come to our attention which were of important
proportions:—(1) a cotton mill had hundreds of spools of yarn which
were cut to pieces in storage by a small worm—and (2) a hosiery mill
Entomology '41
sent samples of manufactured hose which were being riddled by insects.
Such outbreaks in wholesale quantities of clothing materials are too im-portant
to be ignored.
Fall Canker-worm.—An investigation by the writer (Sherman) was
made in May and June in an area on Humpback Mountain, Avery
County, which was attacked for the fourth consecutive year. As this
area, like most of the others involved, consisted of wild forest without
roads, no artificial means of control was practicable, and attention was
centered upon the natural enemies which tend to subdue the worms.
Omitting details, which are on record in our notes, it may be said that
insectivorous birds seemed to gradually concentrate in the area, and the
same s- emed true of certain predaceous insects. Insect parasites of the
worms appeared to be scarce, likewise fungous and bacterial diseases,
but an egg-parasite prevented the hatching of a considerable percentage
of the eggs. In the area studied the defoliation was not as severe as it
had been in previous years, and this gives ground for the hope that the
natural enemies may gradually gain control there and elsewhere,
although some of the areas suffered this year as badly as before.
And thus the problems arise—even when we have a full schedule of
specified projects—sudden and unforeseen outbreaks will create issues
which must be studied at once, even if scheduled ones have to be held
in abeyance for a time. For we have not yet learned to know in advance
what insect problems will arise in any given year.
Respectfully submitted,
Franklin Sherman,
Chief, Division of Entomology.
Report of Entomologist
To the Director:—I have the honor of transmitting herewith a report
covering the work of the Division of Entomology for the past year. The
work of this division is divided between the Hatch and Adams Funds
under the following projects: Hatch Projects, corn ear worm, tobacco
flea beetle, Mediterranean flour moth, and June beetle. Adams Projects,
gloomy scale, pea and bean weevils, melon beetles, corn root worm, and
leaf hoppers.
The corn ear worm project is carried on in cooperation with the
Division of Cereal and Forage Crop Insects, United States Department
of Agriculture and is intended to solve certain methods of control and
also to determine the percentage of injury to corn caused by this insect.
This work has just been inaugurated this year and is not far enough
advanced at the present time to yield any special results. The methods
of determining the percentage of injury have been developed while
prosecuting this project and promise to yield some interesting results,
especially when they have been finally tabulated for all of the principal
varieties of corn grown in the State. The data that have been gathered
42 Forty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
for the past twelve years on time of planting in relation to injury by
ear worm are merely incidental to the corn root worm problem, but they
show some very interesting results in this connection which may be sum-marized
briefly by stating that as a general proposition corn planted
before mid-season for any given locality has a decidedly smaller percent-age
injured by the ear worm. Other phases of this problem are being
followed at Willard, Raleigh, and Swannanoa.
The tobacco flea beetle project is being continued at Oxford an con-sists
principally of trying out methods of control that seem feasible.
These methods have been carried out along four main lines, burning,
dipping, dusting, and cutting.
In burning an effort is made to locate the chief hibernating places of
the beetles and these are thoroughly burned over during the winter. Our
studies have shown that the flea beetles hibernate chiefly around the
edges of fields in woods, along dead furrows, ditch banks, and similar
localities, which give a shelter of dried grass or leaves. It becomes,
therefore, a relatively simple matter to burn over the most favorable
localities in winter, using the ordinary precautions in regard to forest
fires. This method has given excellent results this past year and needs
to be further extended for the coming year.
Dipping the plants at transplanting time has the advantage that it
enables us to put a good application of poison on the plants at a mini-mum
expense and at a time when the plants need the protection very
much indeed. Our experience during the past year would show that
caution is needed in the application of this remedy and further trials
during the coming season will undoubtedly clear up the questionable
points.
During the past year we have carried on rather extensive experiments
in dusting, but the results would seem to indicate that at present prices
the farmer could not afford to dust his tobacco save in very severe out-breaks
of the horn worm or of the flea beetle. These experiments must
be continued, however, to see whether it is not possible to simplify them
to such an extent that the practice would be profitable to the farmer.
For several years your entomologist has urged 'the necessity of the
tobacco farmer keeping down the suckers in the tobacco fields after the
crop is harvested, and never has the importance of this been more ap-parent
than during the past season. If these suckers are allowed to
grow up they furnish ideal conditions for all types of tobacco insects,
but especially for flea beetles. The destruction of these suckers would
drive the flea beetles into hibernation early and this would mean that
most of them would die of starvation before the next spring. Some
experiments conducted this past year show that from 98 to more than
99 per cent of the beetles forced into hibernation before the middle of
September die before tobacco is up in the seed beds the next spring,
whereas in a few cases as many as 60 per cent of the beetles which feed
on tobacco suckers until frost were able to live through the winter. It
Entomology 43
takes but a moment's reflection to see that if the practice of destroying
the suckers should become general the loss due to tobacco insects in this
State would be very materially reduced.
In this connection it seems worth while to note that two tobacco farm-ers
in the eastern part of the State, who have put into practice the recom-mendations
for the control of tobacco flea beetles on tobacco seed beds as
outlined in our Bulletin ~No. 239 on tobacco flea beetle and its control,
that the remedy has proven entirely successful. One farmer who had 25
acres of tobacco reports that the remedy was worth at least $25 an acre
to him ; and another farmer who cultivated 60 acres reports that the rem-edy
was worth $30 an acre to him. These reports are especially encourag-ing
in the light of the fact that it is very difficult to get our tobacco farm-ers
to use any methods of control for tobacco insects. And another phase
of the situation which is especially interesting to me is the fact that these
farmers read our bulletin and put on the demonstration at their own
initiative and carried out all details for themselves, which is sufficient
comment it seems to me on the fact that our bulletins do sometimes reach
the folks for whom they were written. How many other farmers in the
State have done the same thing it is, of course, impossible for us to say.
During the past summer we received notice that one of the largest flour
mills in the State was badly infested with the Mediterranean flour moth.
A preliminary inspection showed that the mill was in a very bad con-dition,
especially in the old wooden mill. Conditions were only about
half as bad in the new brick mill. It was estimated that the mill was
losing about $900 per month from loss of time due to closing down the
mill to clean up, for chemicals used in fumigating and in various other
ways, yet in spite of this the condition was getting gradually worse. It
was decided to fumigate the mill with hydrocyanic acid gas, owing to a
variety of conditions which made it impossible to use heat. In the new
brick mill, which is of modern construction with tight steel sash, the first
fumigation was entirely successful, and not a single moth has been seen
since. In the old mill about a dozen moths were seen after the first
fumigation, so it was immediately fumigated again. After the second
general fumigation only three or four moths were seen, where before
they occurred by the thousands. These seemed to be coming from beneath
the floor and from the boots of the elevators, places not reached by the
general fumigation, so special fumigating jars were devised and these
places fumigated. Since that time not a single moth has been seen.
Thus at a cost estimated at less than $500 this mill has been freed from a
monthly expense of nearly double that amount, and yet with all this
expense they were facing a situation which was gradually growing worse
and which threatened to become unmanageable.
For several years I have been noting the work of the green June beetle
on various crops. It was, therefore, with a great deal of pleasure that I
received and transmitted to you for publication the manuscript of a
bulletin dealing with this pest from Mr. J". J. Davis, now the Entomolo-
44 Forty-Third Annual Report ~N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
gist of the Indiana Experiment Station, embodying the results of several
years work with this insect. This bulletin will make available for our
farmers, fruit growers, and truckers many valuable remedies for the
control of this pest, which is one of our troublesome secondary pests.
Since this bulletin has been written we have found that this insect is
frequently a very troublesome pest to tobacco beds, often practically
destroying them. This past spring one of the large beds at the Oxford
Branch Station was completely riddled by this pest and inquiry developed
the fact that this trouble was more or less general and was usually
attributed to earthworms.
The gloomy scale project has been closed and the manuscript of a bul-letin
covering the more important phases has been prepared for publica-tion
at an early date.
The pea and bean weevil project is being continued, the principal
attention being given to life history studies of three species and to a
study of the effects of drying beans and peas on injury by these weevils.
The corn root worm project is being carried on principally at Willard,
Raleigh and Swannanoa. Data on time of planting show many interest-ing
points, but these must be continued for several years before they are
conclusive.
Most of my time during the past year, however, has been devoted to
the leaf hopper project and in this project we have been following six
principal lines of work. A study of certain forms living on tidal flat
grasses, and certain forms living on mountain pasture, a revision of the
group plant hoppers, a bibliography of the group, and the economics of
some of the more important pests of this group.
The ecological relations of the forms living in the great stretches of
tidal flats along our coast is proving not only interesting but is yielding
results far beyond our expectations. Some of these results have been
summarized in papers appearing in scientific journals which are ap-pended
as a part of this report. The same is also true of the species
living in our mountain pastures, but this work has not been pushed to
the same extent because of the distance to suitable observation points.
The revision of the plant hoppers is about ready for the press and it is
hoped that this will put our knowledge of this group on a better founda-tion
than it has ever been before and make it possible not only for us to
pursue our further studies in this group with better results but that it
will also be useful to other entomologists.
During the course of these studies we have found it necessary to work
out a very careful bibliography of the leaf hoppers of the world. This
work had reached a rather advanced stage and being urged by other stu-dents
it seems desirable to compile this for publication. The size of
this task may be better appreciated when it is known that this bibli-ography
will cover some 2,500 titles which have been published in some
150 separate works, the rest being scattered in about 400 separate jour-
Entomology 45
nals, many of which have run beyond the score of volumes and which have
been published in all of the major European tongues.
More and more we are learning to appreciate the importance of leaf
hoppers as destructive farm pests. And all of the work mentioned above
is being done as a preliminary to real serious work on the economics of
the group. To this end we have been studying a few of the outstanding
pests of the group, especially the apple leaf hopper which is destructive
to soybeans in the east, potatoes in the west, and apples in all sections;
and the clover, alfalfa and grass species.
During the past year the writer has published, or has had accepted for
publication, the following papers, which embody the results of work
carried on by the Station and separates of these papers as far as avail-able
are attached as a part of this report
:
Z. P. Metcalf, a Suggestion for a Better Popular Name for the Pulgoridae
(Hemip.). Entomological News, volume XXXI, pages 57-58.
Z. P. Metcalf, Some Ecological Aspects of the Tidal Zone of the North Caro-lina
Coast. Ecology, volume I, pages 193-197.
Z. P. Metcalf, Dipping Tobacco Plants at Transplanting Time for the Con-trol
of the Tobacco Plea Beetle (Epitrix parvilla Pabr. ). Journal of Economic
Entomology, volume XIII, pages 398-400.
Z. P. Metcalf, Labeling Illustrations, Transactions of the American Micro-scopical
Society, volume XXXIX, pages 146-162.
Z. P. Metcalf and Herbert Osborn, Some Observations on Insects of the
Between Tide Zone of the North Carolina Coast. Annals of the Entomological
Society of America, volume XIII, pages 108-117.
Z. P. Metcalf and Herbert Osborn, Life History Notes on Tibicen viridifas-ciata
Walker. In press.
Z. P. Metcalf and Herbert Osborn, A List of the Cicadellidae of Swannanoa.
In press.
Respectfully submitted,
Z. P. Metcalf,
Entomologist.
REPORT OF DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE
To the Director:—I herewith submit the report of the experimental
work in the Division of Horticulture for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1920.
The experimental work of the division is being continued along the
lines of the projects described in previous reports.
During the year considerable attention has been given to a more
thorough direction and organization of the work. The organization of
investigation so that direct attention to problems of outstanding im-portance
may be developed has been borne in mind. Every attempt is
being made to develop a program of work which will contain live projects
definitely adapted to fundamental and special problems of the State.
The projects are being organized so that problems of first importance
will be selected and so that the expenditure of funds and energy on prob-lems
of only local application will be limited. Every project is reviewed
each year with a critical attitude to see if it is fulfilling the purpose for
which it was intended.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN POMOLOGY
1. Variety Work in Pomology (C. D. Matthews and J. M. Dyer).
Notes and observations on the behavior of varieties of fruits in the
different sections of the State are made from year to year. These notes
and observations show the range of adaptability of the varieties in differ-ent
sections.
Much time and care is expended each year in writing, revising and
checking descriptions of almost all of the important varieties of fruit
grown in the State. These descriptions are to be used in future publica-tions,
and are employed by the division as an aid in identifying varie-ties
of fruit sent to the office from over the State.
2. Native Fruits of North Carolina (C. D. Matthews).
The place of origin, the history, and the description of a number of
varieties of North Carolina origin have been secured. When oppor-tunity
offered the descriptions of varieties secured previous to this season
were verified. Paintings and photographs have been made of the most
important varieties. y
3. Investigational Work with Peaches (Mountain Station, Truck Sta-tion,
Piedmont Station, Coastal Plain Station). (C. D. Matthews
and J. M. Dyer.)
(a)
"Dehorning" Peach Trees. During this last season additional
progress with the peach "dehorning" project has been made. From the
results so far secured it has been shown that in years when the buds are
killed by cold, "dehorning" is a profitable practice in renewing old trees.
It has been found that the operation may be done relatively late in the
spring with satisfactory results.
Horticulture 47
(b) Peach Breeding. It is the object of this propect to produce im-proved
commercial varieties that are more suited to North Carolina
conditions than are the present varieties. It is the purpose, also, to
produce varieties hardier in bud than the present commercial sorts.
To provide working material for this project a variety orchard, con-taining
over 60 different varieties of peaches, was planted at the Truck
Station during 1917. These trees have made a very satisfactory growth
since being planted. During the last year nearly all the varieties had a
partial crop and some very valuable preliminary work was done in
regard to collecting data concerning the characteristics of the different
varieties. There is a good set of fruit buds on the trees and active work
is to be done on this project during the following year.
(c) Hardiness of Peach Varieties in Western North Carolina. Twenty
varieties of peaches, comprising varieties adapted both to extreme north-ern
and to southern conditions, were planted at the Mountain Station in
the spring of 1919 to furnish material for work on determining the
relative hardiness of different peach varieties in Western North Caro-lina.
These trees have made a very satisfactory growth since being
planted.
(d) Phenological Studies with Peaches. The practice of collecting
phenological notes on the peach varieties in the varietal peach orchard
at the Truck Station was started during the spring of 1920. These notes
will be of immense value in handling the breeding project.
(e) Variety Testing with Peaches. Full notes were taken on the be-havior
of over 50 varieties of peaches at the Truck Station. Descriptions
of these varieties were secured.
4. Investigational Work with Pecans. (Truck Station, Coastal Plain
Station and Piedmont Station.) (C. D. Matthews and J. M. Dyer.)
(a) Variety Testing. Twenty-two of the most important southern
varieties are included in this test which has been conducted for 14 years.
Gratifying results are being secured from this work, as certain varieties
are showing marked adaptability to North Carolina conditions, while
others are proving to be undesirable. At this time, valuable recom-mendations
regarding pecan varieties for planting in this State can be
made. According to the results secured the Schley, Stuart, and Alley
varieties are the most desirable for Eastern North Carolina.
(b) Individual Tree Performance Records. The securing of perform-ance
records of the individual pecan trees in the experimental orchards
at the several stations is being continued from year to year. Such a
record affords a more detailed study of the behavior of the different
varieties. As a result of the individual tree performance records it has
been noted that trees of the same variety under identical conditions are
uniformly heavy yielders, while others are very poor producers, that
some produce uniformly large nuts and others uniformly small nuts. As
these individual performance records suggest the possibility of improv-
48 Forty-Third Annual Report ~N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
ing and standardizing individual yields by bud selection, work has been
started along this line.
(c) Cultural Practices. The value of correct cultural practices, such
as tillage and the use of cover crops, is clearly shown in the increased
size of trees and in the increased size and number of nuts produced when
compared to trees and their products grown in sod. To determine the
most desirable system of tillage and cover cropping to be employed in
pecan orchards, work of this nature is being conducted at the Branch
Stations.
(d) Pecan Breeding. The seedlings, as a result of pecan breeding
work, that were set in 1915 at the Truck Station, are making a satis-factory
growth. Some of these seedlings are of bearing size and should
produce some nuts during the coming year.
(e) Toy-working Pecan Trees. The investigations dealing with the
methods of budding and grafting employed in top-working pecan trees
was continued this year. It has been found that a combination of both
grafting and budding should be used to secure the most satisfactory
results. As a result of years of investigation it is the opinion of this
division that top-working should be confined, as a general rule, to trees
not over 8 to 10 years old, to be entirely successful.
(f) Cracking Tests with Pecan Varieties. The cracking test of the
different varieties is made each year. The cracking test is a necessary
adjunct to the performance record of a given variety in determining its
value in a certain section. Very often a variety is highly satisfactory
from a productive standpoint, but the cracking test shows it to be nearly
worthless from an utility viewpoint. The cracking test shows the num-ber
of nuts per pound and determines the per cent of unbroken halves the
variety will crack out, the per cent of shrunken kernels, the per cent of
physiological spot, the per cent of faulty nuts, and shape and size of the
kernels, the texture, quality and flavor of meat, the per cent of meat and
the thickness of shell. As a result of these cracking tests conducted each
year certain varieties that were satisfactory from a productive standpoint
proved to be totally unsuited to North Carolina conditions.
5. Investigational Work with Strawberries. (Truck Station.) (C. IX
Matthews and L. H. Nelson.)
(a) Variety Testing. The variety testing project with strawberries
was initiated with the purpose of determining whether or not there were
any other varieties more desirable as commercial market varieties than
Klondike and Missionary, the two leading commercial varieties. For
this State the most profitable berry combines the characteristics of pro-ductiveness,
earliness, and shipping quality. None of the varieties so far
tested have shown themselves superior to Klondike and Missionary as
commercial varieties. Several of the varieties have shown themselves
valuable for home use.
HORTICULTURE 49
(b) Cultural Practices. During the year experiments to determine
the most desirable planting dates were conducted, as well as work to
determine the value of removing blossoms and cutting runners. This
project has not been in operation a sufficient length of time to furnish
any conclusive information.
6. Investigations with Apples. (C. D. Matthews and J. M. Dyer.)
(Mountain Station.)
(a) Pruning. The pruning project was begun during the year with
the intention of securing information on the desirable height to head
apple trees, to determine the comparative value of the open head and
the modified leader system of training, and to secure information on the
amount of annual pruning most desirable. To supply material for this
work an orchard containing approximately 128 trees, was planted at the
Mountain Station in the spring of 1919. The trees have made a very
satisfactory growth and the first year's work has been completed as
planned.
(b) Apple Thinning. (Mountain Station and Piedmont Station.)
Experiments to determine the effect of thinning fruits and leaves from
the fruit spurs of the apple were initiated. Work on this project has not
been conducted a sufficient length of time to supply information on the
subject.
(c) Summer Apples. (Truck Station.) The variety orchard of sum-mer
apples at the Truck Station bore its first crop of any size this year.
Notes and descriptions were taken on each variety.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN VEGETABLE CULTURE
1. Investigational Work with Sweet Potatoes. (Truck Station.) (C. D.
Matthews and L. H. Nelson.)
(a) Variety Testing. It is the purpose of this work to determine the
most desirable varieties of sweet potatoes for eastern North Carolina
from the standpoint of productivity, market value, keeping quality, and
quantity. There were 19 varieties under observation this year. The
results were, in the main, confirmatory of the work of previous seasons.
Certain varieties have proven their desirability while others have shown
themselves to be undesirable.
(b) Storage. In connection with the variety work, storage tests are
being made from year to year in the storage house to determine the
behavior of the different varieties in storage. Certain varieties have
proven themselves to be better keepers than others.
To facilitate the storage investigational work an additional curing
room was constructed during the summer.
Investigations to determine the relation of time or digging to keeping
quality, the relation of proper harvesting to keeping quality, the proper
method of curing, and the correct management of the house, have been
continued this season. *
4—
50 Fokty-Third Annual Report N. C. Agri. Exp. Station
As a result of this work the division can authoritatively make recom-mendations
regarding varieties for storage and the most desirable meth-ods
to employ in the management of the storage house.
(c) Cultural Practices. During the year work was conducted to
secure information on the following different cultural practices
:
The comparative value of slips vs. vine cuttings as regards produc-tivity.
The effect of ridging on productivity and type of potatoes.
The effect of vine cutting on yield.
(d) Seed Selection. The following lines of work dealing with the
seed selection of sweet potatoes were conducted during the year
:
To determine the relative value of seed stock from high yielding and
low yielding hills as regards productivity and uniformity of potatoes.
To determine the relative value of vine cuttings as compared with slips
for maintaining yield and type, commencing from the same hill.
To determine the comparative value of large and small potatoes for
seed.
To determine the comparative value of seed from late vine cuttings
and seed from main crop draws as regards productivity, type, and keep-ing
quality.
Very satisfactory progress should be reported on this project for this
year.
2. Investigational Work with Irish Potatoes. (Mountain Station and
Truck Station.) (C. D. Matthews, L. H. Nelson, and S. C. Clapp.)
(a) Variety Testing (Mountain Station). The testing of varieties of
Irish potatoes to determine the most desirable varieties for Western
North Carolina conditions was continued this year with 20 varieties.
The testing has been in progress for a sufficient length of time to afford
this division with the necessary information to make reliable recommen-dations
regarding the choice of varieties for the western part of the State.
(b) Variety Testing (Truck Station). Satisfactory progress should
be reported on the work to determine the most desirable early varieties
for Eastern North Carolina and the best varieties for the second crop.
(c) Hill and Tuber Unit Selection Work (Mountain Station.) The
hill and tuber unit selection method of variety improvement is being
employed in an attempt to produce strains of the best varieties with
greater productivity and more desirable characters.
(d) Cultural Practices (Truck Station). Work was conducted to
determine the effects of different cultural practices on the yield of pota-toes.
Practices receiving consideration were:
Width of rows.
Distance apart in the rows.
Ereshly cut or stored cut seed.
Effect of sprouting on yield.
Cut versus uncut seed.
Horticulture 51
(e) Testing the Value of Different Sources of Seed. Experiments
were conducted to determine the comparative value of Maine grown
seed, second crop seed produced in the Coastal Plain, and Western North
Carolina seed in different stages of maturity as the most desirable seed
for the early crop of Irish potatoes in Eastern North Carolina. This
work has not been in existence a sufficient length of time to furnish con-clusive
results.
3. Investigational Work with Cabbage. (Mountain Station.) (C. D.
Matthews, L. H. Nelson, and S. C. Clapp.)
(a) Variety Testing. The testing of varieties of cabbage to determine
the most desirable varieties for Western North Carolina was continued
this year. The testing has been in progress for a sufficient length of
time to afford this division with the necessary information to make
reliable recommendations regarding the choice of varieties for the west-ern
part of the State.
4. Observation Garden. (Truck Station.) (C. D. Matthews and L. H.
Nelson.)
The all-year observation garden at the Truck Station has proven very
valuable in supplying information regarding varieties and planting
dates of different vegetables for Eastern North Carolina. It has been
of value also as a demonstration in gardening and has been an inspira-tion
to many visitors who have seen it.
Respectfully submitted,
C. D. Matthews,
Acti